Women are on the frontline of the fight against dangerous climate change all around the world.

The women and girls of Australia have a special role to play in 2015 because the fate of the Great Barrier Reef, which I believe is the greatest of the planet's natural treasures, is hanging in the balance.

There is no greater intergenerational theft imaginable than denying future generations the splendour of the Reef. US President Barack Obama said as much when he was in Brisbane for the G20 Summit last November, concerned that his own daughters could be denied sharing the Reef's wonders.

For the past year 1 Million Women has been pushing hard for the protection of 'the Reef', which we say requires it to be officially declared as 'World Heritage in Danger' by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

This will come to a head in a few months when the World Heritiage Committee holds its annual meeting, this year being hosted in Germany, at the end of June.

The Australian Government, meanwhile, is fighting desperately to avoid an 'in Danger' listing, fearing political embarrassment as well as financial damage to the $6 billion a year Reef-based tourism industry. The fact is that climate change is the greatest of all threats to the Reef. The Government owned official watchdog, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, says so.

But sadly we all know not enough is being done to address climate change in Australia at the moment. The fate of the Great Barrier Reef will continue to hang in the balance until we stop digging new coal mines, building new coal ports, and shipping out more and more coal to burn in power stations that pollute the atmosphere with greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate global warming. Until we replace coal, gas and all fossil fuels with clean energy from the sun, the wind and other renewable sources.

1 Million Women exists to mobilise women to take action to fight climate change in our daily lives. Every change for the better that we make in our own lives to reduce consumption, waste and carbon pollution can help the Great Barrier Reef.

The Reef is a barometer for the well-being of the whole planet.

We can save the Reef, if we unite and are resolved, and that is the message of hope that I want women and girls everywhere to share and embrace this International Women's Day.

Please add your name to 1 Million Women's call to action for the Reef www.reef.1millionwomen.com.au