Australia – Independent creative studio Supermassive and Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) have launched the ‘Lifetime of Greatness Project, a global integrated campaign calling for the Great Barrier Reef to be recognised as the first non-human recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award – the highest environmental honour from the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Champions of the Earth Awards.
Launched on World Earth Day the ‘Lifetime of Greatness Project’ is a collaboration of marine scientists, Traditional Owners, tourism operators, schools, councils, and advocates of the Great Barrier Reef.
These voices of the communities of the Reef have aligned with a shared ambition to persuade the UNEP to bestow the award – historically given to a living individual who has demonstrated decades of impact in protecting the earth and its inhabitants – to the planet’s largest living entity, in recognition of a millennia of positive environmental impact that spans cultures, generations and species.
Backed by partners including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Councils, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Qantas and Intrepid, this first-of-its-kind initiative invites worldwide participation, creating a wave of support to shine a light on one of Earth’s most important ecosystems.
Described by UNESCO as ‘a globally outstanding and significant entity’, the Great Barrier Reef is an individual so vast it can be seen from space, and so significant it has been considered a teacher, a healer and a provider to Indigenous communities for over 60,000 years.
Jon Austin, co-founder and CCO at Supermassive explained the motivation behind the campaign, stating, “Environmental leaders like Sir David Attenborough inspire us to learn more and do more for our planet. We needed people to learn more and do more for the Great Barrier Reef, and so we set out to celebrate it in a whole new way: as a living champion of the environment; an individual whose ecological and cultural significance, and contribution to global marine science benefits us all. What better way of landing the point than by submitting it for the highest environmental honour possible?”
He added, “When we read the criteria for the UNEP’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises “individuals who have made a lasting and significant contribution to protecting the planet over a lifetime”, and heard stories from scientists, Traditional Owners and communities about how the Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest living entity – has protected our planet and its inhabitants for thousands of years, we knew we had a nominee that wasn’t just surprisingly eligible, but incredibly worthy.”
Meanwhile, Lani Cooper, general manager of marketing at Tourism Tropical North Queensland, commented, “This campaign is as ambitious as the ecosystem it represents. The Great Barrier Reef is a catalyst for environmental initiatives and this bold nomination repositions it not just as a natural wonder but as a global leader in its own right.”
Working with Supermassive, we’ve created an integrated campaign that blends purpose with creativity to drive global awareness. From immersive experiences and strategic partnerships to social and digital storytelling, our aim is to galvanise a worldwide audience around a simple, powerful idea to give the Reef the recognition it deserves.”
