The UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced Friday that it will not list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered following two days of deliberations that left Australians holding their breath in fear a new classification could hurt the image of the natural wonder.
An 'in danger' listing means a site is under threat and action must be taken to address concerns or it could lose its World Heritage status.
The committee, which is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), met today to discuss the matter, as more than 60 percent of the corals have been impacted by bleaching that is linked to climate change.
The notion to move it to the endangered list was not from the Australian government, but was proposed by 13 public figures, who include actors and journalists.
The letter, signed by by 'Aquaman' actor Jason Momoa and ocean explorer Philippe Cousteau, among others, reads: 'Over the past five years, three severe coral bleaching events fueled by global warming have caused mass coral mortality.
'The scientific evidence is beyond doubt: the Great Barrier Reef is in danger and it is time to act.'
However the July 20th proposal fell on deaf ears, ending with UNESCO denying the move to list the Great Barrier reef as in danger.
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The UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced Friday that it will not list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered following two days of deliberations that left Australians holding their breath in fear a new classification could hurt the image of the natural wonder
The committee is instead asking for report by February 2022 to highlight the Great Barrier Reef's state of conservation and measures that will be taken to ensure its survival.
Another assessment will be conducted in 2023.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter responded to the decision, saying it was not 'an achievement', but 'a day of infamy for the Australian government.'
'Under the UNESCO treaty, the Australian government promised the world it would do its utmost to protect the Reef - instead it has done its utmost to hide the truth,' he told Yahoo News.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 1,429 miles along the coast of Australia and although massive and is one of the seven wonders of the natural world
The committee, which is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), met today to discuss the matter, as more than 60 percent of the corals
