Learn why the Great Barrier Reef deserves to become the first non-human recipient of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
We acknowledge the continuing Sea Country management and custodianship of the Great Barrier Reef by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect the Reef for future generations.
SUPPORTERS
people from all over the world support
the Great Barrier Reef’s nomination
We Support
We Support
THE AWARD
Introducing
“a globally outstanding and significant entity.”
UNESCO
The Champions of the Earth Awards – presented by the United Nations Environment Programme – are the world’s highest environmental honour. The pinnacle of the awards is the Lifetime Achievement Award, only given to those who have spent decades helping the planet and its inhabitants. The most inspirational living individuals whose actions change, protect and safeguard the world. But ‘individual’ has many meanings, including a ‘distinct entity’.
As the earth’s largest living structure, described by UNESCO as “a globally outstanding and significant entity”, we believe the Great Barrier Reef is an eligible and worthy nominee for the 2025 UNEP Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Great Barrier Reef deserves the UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award because
it protects more than 9,000 different species of marine life
it creates one of the world’s most bio-diverse ecosystems
it has sustained and supported Indigenous communities for over 60,000 years
it brings millions of people together through sustainable initiatives
it contributes over $6B to the Australian economy annually, supporting over 64,000 jobs
it generates breakthrough research, vital for reef conservation worldwide
it provides a critical habitat for over 40 threatened species
it makes up 10% of the world’s coral reef ecosystems
it is one of the world’s seven natural wonders and a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Listed site
it has inspired millions to see it and do more to protect our planet
of its enduring contribution to environmental, socio-economic and cultural communities
Other ways you can
support the Reef
01.
Eye on the Reef
02.
Master Reef Guides
03.
The Great Reef Census
04.
Visit the Reef
Together, we can show the United Nations Environment Programme that the individual who has had the largest impact on the world, is the world’s largest individual.
Follow Us
From once-in-a-lifetime dives to childhood snorkels, your stories say it all.
This is why we protect the Reef - for the memories, the magic, and the millions more to come.
A lifetime this great deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award. 🪸 Sign your support for the Reef’s nomination at the link in bio.
🎥: Reef Magic Cruises Cairns
From once-in-a-lifetime dives to childhood snorkels, your stories say it all.
This is why we protect the Reef - for the memories, the magic, and the millions more to come.
A lifetime this great deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award. 🪸 Sign your support for the Reef’s nomination at the link in bio.
🎥: Reef Magic Cruises Cairns
Between leading school excursions to the Reef and peering at coral organisms under a microscope, we scored 60 seconds with marine science teacher Matthew Radburnd from one of Australia`s Reef Guardian schools, to share some facts about the Reef and why he believes it deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award. 🏆🌊
Sign your support for its nomination at the link in bio.
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Between leading school excursions to the Reef and peering at coral organisms under a microscope, we scored 60 seconds with marine science teacher Matthew Radburnd from one of Australia`s Reef Guardian schools, to share some facts about the Reef and why he believes it deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award. 🏆🌊
Sign your support for its nomination at the link in bio.
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Step behind the scenes as we bring the Reef’s story to life. 🌊🎥
The Great Barrier Reef’s nomination for @UNEP’s Lifetime Achievement Award is more than just recognition, it’s a call to action. With greater global awareness comes stronger conservation efforts, increased funding, and urgent policy changes to preserve this irreplaceable ecosystem.
Join the movement and sign your support at the link in bio.
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Step behind the scenes as we bring the Reef’s story to life. 🌊🎥
The Great Barrier Reef’s nomination for @UNEP’s Lifetime Achievement Award is more than just recognition, it’s a call to action. With greater global awareness comes stronger conservation efforts, increased funding, and urgent policy changes to preserve this irreplaceable ecosystem.
Join the movement and sign your support at the link in bio.
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
The world’s greatest classroom deserves the world’s highest honour. 📚🌊
Sign your support for its UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award nomination at the link in bio. 🪸
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
The world’s greatest classroom deserves the world’s highest honour. 📚🌊
Sign your support for its UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award nomination at the link in bio. 🪸
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Did you know Sir David Attenborough was a recipient of the @UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award?
Culture Guide and Master Reef Guide Regina Morey shares why she believes it’s time we honour the Reef’s almost 10,000-year legacy — and one of Sir David’s greatest inspirations.
Sign your support for the Reef’s nomination at the link in bio. 🪸
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Did you know Sir David Attenborough was a recipient of the @UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award?
Culture Guide and Master Reef Guide Regina Morey shares why she believes it’s time we honour the Reef’s almost 10,000-year legacy — and one of Sir David’s greatest inspirations.
Sign your support for the Reef’s nomination at the link in bio. 🪸
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
"It’s time to celebrate Australia’s Great Barrier Reef … a lifetime this great
deserves to be recognised” — @craigparryphotography.
Join the movement and sign your support for the Reef`s nomination at the link in bio. 💙
#lifetimeofgreatness #greatbarrierreef
"It’s time to celebrate Australia’s Great Barrier Reef … a lifetime this great
deserves to be recognised” — @craigparryphotography.
Join the movement and sign your support for the Reef`s nomination at the link in bio. 💙
#lifetimeofgreatness #greatbarrierreef
Today marks the birthday of Sir David Attenborough, a voice the planet has trusted for nearly a century. To celebrate, he’s released a powerful new documentary, `Ocean`. 🌊
“After living for nearly 100 years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on this planet is not on land, but on sea...Our planet’s life support system - our greatest ally against climate catastrophe...If we save our sea, we save our world,” he says.
The ocean is our life support system. It absorbs more carbon than the world’s rainforests and holds the key to our climate future.
In 2022, Sir David received the @UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award. One of his greatest inspirations? The Great Barrier Reef. 🪸
Now we’re working to nominate the Reef itself. This would be a first-of-its-kind nomination for a living legend that has protected and inspired for 10,000 years.
Sign your support. Link in bio.
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Video: @silverback_films
Today marks the birthday of Sir David Attenborough, a voice the planet has trusted for nearly a century. To celebrate, he’s released a powerful new documentary, `Ocean`. 🌊
“After living for nearly 100 years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on this planet is not on land, but on sea...Our planet’s life support system - our greatest ally against climate catastrophe...If we save our sea, we save our world,” he says.
The ocean is our life support system. It absorbs more carbon than the world’s rainforests and holds the key to our climate future.
In 2022, Sir David received the @UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award. One of his greatest inspirations? The Great Barrier Reef. 🪸
Now we’re working to nominate the Reef itself. This would be a first-of-its-kind nomination for a living legend that has protected and inspired for 10,000 years.
Sign your support. Link in bio.
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Video: @silverback_films
POV: You’re drifting through the world`s largest living entity, exploring a kaleidoscopic underwater world that has thrived for millennia. 🌊
We’re honouring the ultimate teacher, protector, and force of nature: the Great Barrier Reef. Sign your support for its @UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award nomination and be part of history. Link in bio.
Video Credit: Quicksilver Group
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
POV: You’re drifting through the world`s largest living entity, exploring a kaleidoscopic underwater world that has thrived for millennia. 🌊
We’re honouring the ultimate teacher, protector, and force of nature: the Great Barrier Reef. Sign your support for its @UNEP Lifetime Achievement Award nomination and be part of history. Link in bio.
Video Credit: Quicksilver Group
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Ready to dive into the truth about the Great Barrier Reef? 🪸
We jumped aboard with Dr. Eric Fisher, marine biologist with @MasterReefGuides, to separate fact from fiction and uncover the real magic of this living wonder. ✨
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
Ready to dive into the truth about the Great Barrier Reef? 🪸
We jumped aboard with Dr. Eric Fisher, marine biologist with @MasterReefGuides, to separate fact from fiction and uncover the real magic of this living wonder. ✨
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
We caught up with the @masterreefguides, the storytellers, scientists, and reef ambassadors helping visitors understand just how special this place really is. 🌊🐚
From coral facts to cultural connections, they’re leading the way in Reef education and protection.
Join them in celebrating the Great Barrier Reef’s #LifetimeOfGreatness by signing your support at the link in bio.
We caught up with the @masterreefguides, the storytellers, scientists, and reef ambassadors helping visitors understand just how special this place really is. 🌊🐚
From coral facts to cultural connections, they’re leading the way in Reef education and protection.
Join them in celebrating the Great Barrier Reef’s #LifetimeOfGreatness by signing your support at the link in bio.
“It is one of the greatest and more splendid natural treasures that the world possesses. Evolved over hundreds of thousands of years, it’s one of nature’s most impressive creations” — Sir David Attenborough. 🌏
Name another living entity whose footprint is bigger than Italy and whose presence stretches from ocean floor to rainforest edge. 🪸🍃
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
“It is one of the greatest and more splendid natural treasures that the world possesses. Evolved over hundreds of thousands of years, it’s one of nature’s most impressive creations” — Sir David Attenborough. 🌏
Name another living entity whose footprint is bigger than Italy and whose presence stretches from ocean floor to rainforest edge. 🪸🍃
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
For over 60,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for the Great Barrier Reef. This isn’t a new story — it’s an ancient one 🌿
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
For over 60,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for the Great Barrier Reef. This isn’t a new story — it’s an ancient one 🌿
#LifetimeOfGreatness #GreatBarrierReef
![1. Tourism and Events Queensland logo[4][4]](https://alifetimeofgreatness.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.-Tourism-and-Events-Queensland-logo44-300x88.png){kind=logo}
![Tourism_Australia_logo_wordmark_horizontal[2]](https://alifetimeofgreatness.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tourism_Australia_logo_wordmark_horizontal2-300x100.png){kind=logo}
![Reef_Guardian_Council_Initiative_RGB_Logo[5]](https://alifetimeofgreatness.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reef_Guardian_Council_Initiative_RGB_Logo5-300x85.png){kind=logo}
![Reef_Guardian_School_Initiative_RGB_Logo[5]](https://alifetimeofgreatness.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Reef_Guardian_School_Initiative_RGB_Logo5-300x85.png){kind=logo}
