THE SQUIZ

The United Nations has had a fair bit to say about Oz and our environmental policies this week.  In an address to a global sustainability summit, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named Australia as a “holdout” amongst developed nations that are committing to more ambitious emissions reductions targets. Also this week, scientists from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have begun a 10-day monitoring mission of the Great Barrier Reef. Last year, Environment Minister Sussan Ley successfully lobbied to keep it off their ‘in danger’ list. 

LET’S START AT THE TOP… 

That’s always a good idea. Guterres said that without strong commitments from countries like Oz, the hope of keeping temperature rises to 1.5C by the end of the century is “on life support” and that capping it to 2C may also be out of reach. He said countries were “sleepwalking to climate catastrophe” if they continue to rely on fossil fuels, like coal, which he labelled a “stupid investment.” PM Scott Morrison attended the big climate summit in Glasgow last year, but failed to strengthen Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target or commit to phase out coal. What we did agree to is a target of net zero emissions by 2050. Yesterday, Simon Bradshaw from the Climate Council said the UN chief’s attack was unprecedented. But the Morrison Government shrugged off the criticism, with senior frontbencher Paul Fletcher saying “the chattering classes of the UN can say whatever they want,” but that Oz was “delivering outcomes” with its climate policies. 

AND WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE BARRIER REEF?

It’s being given a checkup by UNESCO in a visit that was brokered as part of a compromise deal after the Morrison Government said a recommendation to downgrade the natural wonder’s World Heritage listing wasn’t based on progress being made to protect it. And the group has arrived at an interesting time – there’s new concerns about a mass coral bleaching event over summer. Bleaching occurs when warm water expels the algae in the coral tissue, turning it white and making it vulnerable to disease and starvation. The 2,300km reef has seen 5 mass bleaching events between 1998 to 2020, with climate change playing a lead role. The UN’s scientists are there until the end of next week and will complete a progress report by early May. And then a new government will have to deal with it when it goes to the World Heritage Committee in June.