A snap action organised by Extinction Rebellion (XR) Western Australia on August 7 highlighted the fact that the Great Barrier Reef remains in great danger.
The 鈥淪aving Nemo鈥 action included protesters criticising Prime Minister Scott Morrison and environment minister Sussan Ley for ensuring the endangered coral reef stayed off the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee聽鈥渋n danger鈥 list in July.
UNESCO, the United Nations science and culture organisation, had recommended in late June that the reef鈥檚 status be downgraded to 鈥渋n danger鈥.
Ley undertook an eight-day in person聽lobbying trip to Hungary, France, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Oman and the Maldives. She also聽met ambassadors from 18 countries, either face-to-face or virtually.
In the end, Bahrain, Bosnia and聽Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Hungary, Mali, Nigeria, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, Uganda voted with Australia.
XR activists said the reef at risk of bleaching and each new coal or gas mine contributes to global warming which destroys the reef. There have been three mass coral bleaching events in five years.
UNESCO will undertake on-the-ground monitoring of the reef in coming months.
The 聽is still concerned, however. It聽noted 鈥渢he long-term outlook for the ecosystem of the property has further deteriorated from poor to very poor鈥 and that 鈥減rogress has been largely insufficient in meeting key targets of the Reef 2050 Plan, in particular the water quality and land management targets鈥.
Further, it stated that 鈥渁ccelerated action at all possible levels is required to address the threat from climate change鈥.
XR, along with many other groups and individuals, want the survival of the largest coral reef system and the biggest living structure on the planet to be prioritised over the profits of the fossil fuel corporations.