Briefly

AUSTRALIA

Barrier Reef back in spotlight on listing

Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of "in danger" World Heritage sites, according to United Nations experts who warned the fading wonder has been "significantly impacted" by climate change. A UNESCO-tasked report said on Monday that warming seas and agricultural pollution had put the reef at risk and that its resilience had been "substantially compromised". The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's premier tourist drawcards and putting it on the in-danger list could substantially tarnish its allure for international visitors. UNESCO considered listing the reef after a damning report last year, but held off following intense lobbying from Australia's previous conservative government.