The United Nations has recognized Australia's management of the Great Barrier Reef to exemplify sustainable marine management in a 223-page report which calls for an "ever-green revolution for the 21st century.

The UN used information supplied by the Australian government to highlight Australia's management of the Great Barrier Reef as an example of sustainable marine management.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in north-east Australia.

The reef, which is a very popular destination for tourists especially in the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns regions, has long been used by the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is an important part of local groups' cultures and spirituality.

The UN Panel on Sustainability's report called "Resilient People, Resilient Planet: a Future Worth Choosing," called for the creation of a new sustainable development index that targets poverty and inequality.

The UN has reportedly expressed alarm at the potential impact of resource development and increased shipping along the Queensland coast on the World Heritage-listed area.

The panel thus urged a better link between science and policy, including reaching a real scientific consensus on the full range of planetary boundaries regarding the limits of Earth's resources and proper pricing of environmental costs.

The report's recommendations include empowering people to make sustainable choices, working towards a sustainable economy and strengthening institutional governance to support sustainable development.

"We believe that following a more sustainable path will enhance human well-being, further global justice, strengthen gender equity and preserve the Earth's life-support systems for future generations," it said