the Australian Government, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison claiming that the recommendation had been “absolutely appalling”. Accordingly, Australia’s ambassador to UNESCO, together with eleven other international ambassadors, have written to the UN body to “share collective concerns” about its decision, as part of Canberra’s global lobbying efforts to ensure the reef is not put on the list.
“We share collective concerns over the process taken to develop recommendations to be discussed at UNESCO’s 44th World Heritage Meeting,” the ambassadors wrote in the letter sent on Wednesday. According to senior UNESCO official Dr Fanny Douvere, the UN body made this decision based on reports issued by the Australian Government, including The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s outlook report, which found that the coral reefs have declined to a very poor condition, leading to widespread habitat loss and degradation that is having a significant impact on fish, turtles and seabirds. Nevertheless, the ambassadors, in their letter, pointed out that the UNESCO and its advisory bodies have had “limited ability” to analyse these reports or to carryout site visits particularly owing to the pandemic.
“However, we underscore the need for intergovernmental and international institutions to continue to apply due process in interactions with their States Parties,” the letter read. The ambassadors further noted that recommendations, including crucial decisions such as an “immediate in-danger listing of properties” should be based on “transparent, extensive and close consultation processes”.
The letter, addressed to UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay, was signed by Australia’s ambassador to UNESCO, Megan Anderson, and her counterparts from the UK, Canada, France, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines.
