Bid for United Nations lifetime achievement award for Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef could become the first-non human to win a prestigious lifetime achievement award. Here’s how.
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The Great Barrier Reef could become the first non-human to win the United Nations Environmental Programme’s lifetime achievement honour after being nominated in the Champions of Earth environmental awards.
Led by Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian councils, the nomination is backed by Tourism Australia, Qantas and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, with support from traditional owners, marine scientists, students and tourism operators.
Great Barrier Reef Foundation managing director Anna Marsden said the reef was not just an environmental icon, but a living entity that had “nurtured life for millennia”.
“This is our moment to give back and honour its contribution with the recognition it deserves while also raising awareness of the ongoing work being done to protect its beauty and biodiversity,” Ms Marsden said.
“By nominating the Great Barrier Reef for this award, we are inviting the world to celebrate how it connects people from across the globe, from schoolchildren and scientists to traditional owners and international visitors – and the power it holds to drive change.”
The project, which will be launched on World Earth Day, April 22, aimed to shine a light on the reef’s 10,000 year legacy of conservation, cultural significance, biodiversity and climate action, positioning it alongside environmental icons such as Sir David Attenborough – a past recipient of the award.
Reef Guardian Council chairman Jeff Baines said the organisation and reef communities aimed to persuade the United Nations Environment Programme to name the reef as the first non-human recipient for almost 10,000 years of positive environmental impact.
“Only living individuals can win and an individual is defined as a distinct entity, so using UNESCO’s definition of the Great Barrier Reef as a globally outstanding and significant entity, we argue that the Great Barrier Reef meets the entry requirements,” Mr Baines said.
“Master Reef Guides and marine biologists have also backed the submission drawing attention to the fact that the Great Barrier Reef protects more than 9000 species of marine life, creating one of the most biodiverse environments on Earth and brings millions of people together every year through sustainable initiatives.”
Tropical Tourism North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said the tourism industry backed the nomination due to its impact on visitors, local jobs, economy and infrastructure.
“We firmly believe that the individual who has had the largest impact on the world is the world’s largest individual, and we hope people around the world will share this understanding through The Lifetime of Greatness Project,” Mr Olsen said.
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Originally published as Bid for United Nations lifetime achievement award for Great Barrier Reef
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