The Great Barrier Reef will not be added to a list of World Heritage Sites that are “in danger” after a UN panel on Friday agreed to defer a vote until 2022 amid pushback from Australia. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee was held virtually in the Chinese city of Fuzhou. The committee members agreed to an amendment that would require Australia to produce an updated report on the state of the reef by February 2022 when a vote could follow on whether to classify the site as in danger. The Australian government has been disputing the earlier recommendation by the China-chaired committee that the reef should be classified as “in danger,” arguing that it was a politically motivated decision. Chinese vice education minister Tian Xuejun dismissed the claims by Australian politicians and said the country should focus on “earnestly fulfilling the duty” of protecting the Great Barrier Reef instead of making …