Great Barrier Reef ‘In Danger’ Due To Climate Change & Global Warming

World famous scientists, royalty, former presidents and actors have signed an open letter asking UNESCO to list Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’ due to climate change and global warming.

As you may know, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO made the recommendation late last month and will be meeting this week to vote on the resolution. We expect a decision Friday evening (Australian time) .

Australia has one of the highest per capita levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, and is also one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal and liquified gas. It has been lobbying hard against the draft decision, including co-sponsoring a resolution with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to delay the decision.

Signatures on the letter include Philippe Cousteau (Journalist, explorer and ocean advocate), HSH Prince Albert II Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Christiana Figueres. Mohamed Nasheed GCSK (Former President of the Maldives), Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS (Actor, producer, activist) and Jason Momoa (Actor-Aquaman).

Australia has one of the highest per capita levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, and is also one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal and liquified gas. It has been lobbying hard against the draft decision, including co-sponsoring a resolution with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to delay the decision.

Signatures on the letter include Philippe Cousteau (Journalist, explorer and ocean advocate), HSH Prince Albert II Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Christiana Figueres. Mohamed Nasheed GCSK (Former President of the Maldives), Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS (Actor, producer, activist) and Jason Momoa (Actor-Aquaman).

They have endorsed a statement, which says Australia and the world must act now on climate while there is still time to save the Reef.

The statement says the climate emergency is already evident in the Reef, pointing to the three severe coral bleaching events in just five years which have caused mass coral mortality.

They say limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C is a critical threshold for the Reef and urge Australia – as the custodian of the Reef – to implement a national plan compatible with 1.5°C.

The world renowned and respected endorsees support UNESCO’s recommendation to the World Heritage Committee to inscribe the Reef on the List of World Heritage In Danger.

The statement says: “We urge the world’s major emitters to undertake the most ambitious climate action under the Paris Agreement. There is still time to save the Great Barrier Reef, but Australia and the world must act now.

“We commend UNESCO for its leadership. We urge the World Heritage Committee to endorse UNESCO’s recommendation.”

The statement was organised by the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Australia’s leading marine conservation organisation.

AMCS CEO Darren Kindleysides thanked the leading names who agreed to endorse the statement at short notice.

“The influential signatories to this statement are from all over the world, showing that adoration and alarm for our Reef is not just a concern for Australians. The Reef belongs to the world, and as its custodian, Australia must show global leadership on climate action to preserve its future.”

It is the latest high profile call on the World Heritage Committee to accept the UNESCO recommendations following public letters from five world renowned scientists, Australia’s leading environmental non-government organisations and over 50 influential Australians.

The 21-member World Heritage Committee will decide later this week whether to ratify UNESCO’s science-based recommendation to add the Reef to the World Heritage ‘in danger’ list.

Views expressed here are those of Dr. Seema Javed, a known Environmentalist, Journalist and Communications Expert