John McCain urges action on Great Barrier Reef and Paris climate deal

Speaking in Sydney, US senator says he is 'afraid about what the world is going to look like for our children'

The death of the Great Barrier Reef is one of the "great tragedies of our lives", US senator John McCain has said, arguing America should uphold its commitment to the Paris climate agreement, or accede to it with minor modifications.

Speaking in Sydney on Tuesday night, the veteran politician and former Republican party presidential candidate said climate change was undeniably real and that it was incumbent upon world leaders to act now to halt and reverse global warming.