CANBERRA, Australia: A United Nations agency says it has “serious concern” about coral bleaching on Australia’s Great Barrier and urges the government to work faster to improve water quality in the region.
UNESCO said in a draft report to the World Heritage Committee released on Saturday on the state of conservation of World Heritage-listed properties that “climate change remains the most significant overall threat to the future” of the coral expanse.
UNESCO was also critical of Australia, saying “progress toward achieving water quality targets has been slow.”
A study of coral bleaching on the reef, published in the journal Nature in March, found 91 percent of the reef had been bleached at least once during three bleaching events of the past two decades, the most serious event occurring last year.
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UNESCO has ‘serious concern’ over Great Barrier Reef coral
UNESCO has ‘serious concern’ over Great Barrier Reef coral
Ukraine will be technically ready to join EU in 2027, Zelensky says
KYIV: Ukraine will be technically ready to join the European Union in 2027, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that securing ‘fast track’ accession to the bloc was an important part of security guarantees after the war with Russia ends.
“Technically, we will be ready in 2027,” Zelensky told reporters in remarks released by his office on Friday, adding that by the end of 2026 Ukraine will have implemented the main steps required for membership.
“I would like Ukraine to receive a clear timeline,” he said, adding that his government was committed to the necessary reforms.
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