Unesco recommends Great Barrier Reef world heritage site should be listed as ‘in danger’

Australian government stunned' by recommendation and will strongly oppose draft decision, environment minister Sussan Ley says

• Timeline: decades of damage and Australia's fight to stop in danger' listing
• Comment: The Australian government wants to avoid reef being listed as in danger' at all costs

The Great Barrier Reef should be placed on to a list of world heritage sites that are in danger", according to a recommendation from UN officials that urges Australia to take accelerated action at all possible levels" on climate change.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization says the world's biggest coral reef system should be placed on the list at the world heritage committee meeting next month.