---
title: Australia singled out by UN boss with 1.5C goal in “intensive care”
description: UN boss Antonio Guterres has warned the goal to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees is in “intensive care” and laid the blame at the feet of wealthy nations, singling out Australia for its poor emissions reduction target.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Australia singled out by UN boss with 1.5C goal in “intensive care”
Tuesday, 22 March 2022
UN boss Antonio Guterres has warned the goal to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees is in “intensive care” and laid the blame at the feet of wealthy nations, singling out Australia for its poor emissions reduction target.
The UNESCO monitoring mission has arrived to investigate the government's efforts to protect the Reef, but little detail has been released and several conservation groups have raised concerns about access.
And new research from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) shows the federal government has approved the destruction of more than 200,000 hectares of threatened species habitat in the past decade.
[UN boss: ‘Madness’ to back fossil fuels as global energy crunch bites](https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/un-boss-madness-to-back-fossil-fuels-as-global-energy-crunch-bites-20220321-p5a6j9.html)
Turning back to fossil fuels due to the global energy shock caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be “madness” and risk “mutually assured destruction”, the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has warned in a speech to an energy and climate summit.
[Reef mission arrives amid access concerns](https://7news.com.au/news/wildlife/reef-mission-arrives-amid-access-concerns-c-6148952)
A United Nations mission has arrived to evaluate the federal government's efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef from climate change and other threats, but Australians have been told not to expect many details.
[Australian government ‘aggravating extinction’ through land-clearing approvals, analysis finds](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/22/australian-government-aggravating-extinction-through-land-clearing-approvals-analysis-finds)
The pace at which the Australian government is approving the destruction of habitat relied on by threatened species has increased in recent years, despite scientists warning of an escalating extinction crisis, according to an environment group analysis.
[‘It’s not supposed to be white’: one of the Great Barrier Reef’s healthiest reefs succumbs to bleaching](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/22/its-not-supposed-to-be-white-one-of-the-great-barrier-reefs-healthiest-reefs-succumbs-to-bleaching)
Widespread bleaching during the cooler temperatures of La Niña has left scientists dreading the damage that could be caused by the next El Niño.
[Woodside’s Scarborough gas project in Greens’ sights](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/woodside-s-scarborough-gas-project-in-greens-sights-20220321-p5a6n4.html)
Woodside’s $US12 billion plan to unlock the Scarborough gas field is in the crosshairs of the Greens’ policy to pause all new coal, oil and gas projects, with party leader Adam Bandt levelling a challenge for Woodside to “bring on” any challenge of the policy.
[Gladstone hydrogen, renewable energy transition prompts strategy for change](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-21/gladstone-renewable-energy-hydrogen-transition-change-strategy/100925372)
Gladstone is currently in the middle of a transition from a reliance on fossil fuel industries to more green industries, with community groups working together to ensure the transition doesn't leave the community behind.
[Reef](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/reef), [Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [COP26](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/cop26)
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-singled-out-by-un-boss-with-1.5c-goal-in-intensive-care%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-singled-out-by-un-boss-with-1.5c-goal-in-intensive-care%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-singled-out-by-un-boss-with-1.5c-goal-in-intensive-care%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-singled-out-by-un-boss-with-1.5c-goal-in-intensive-care%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### [Reef a 'checkerboard' from bleaching, Australia not on board with action](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/reef-a-checkerboard-from-bleaching-australia-not-on-board-with-action)
The future of the Great Barrier Reef hangs in the balance due to global warming, with only 2 per...
### [Time is running out as COP26 enters final day, but Morrison seems to think it’s already over](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/time-is-running-out-as-cop26-enters-final-day-but-morrison-seems-to-think-its-already-over)
COP26 enters its final day, with UN chief Antonio Guterres declaring the goal of limiting global...
### [Net-zero detail: wishful thinking, offsets underpin Morrison climate plan](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/net-zero-detail-wishful-thinking-offsets-underpin-morrison-climate-plan)
After a lengthy public spat, the Morrison Government has declared a ceasefire in the war with...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)