Green groups urge Barrier Reef action

Urgent action is needed to ensure the Great Barrier Reef can withstand the impacts of climate change, green groups warn.

A major UN report, released on Monday, claims the reef could be damaged irreparably within 25 years unless more is done to reduce carbon emissions.

Felicity Wishart, of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, says more needs to be done to improve the reef's health and reduce the impacts of climate change.

Banning offshore dredging projects and stricter criteria for future developments along the Queensland coast would help, she says.

"The last thing the reef needs as it struggles with the impacts of climate change is the additional pressure from industrial activity," she said in a statement.

Ms Wishart says 100 million tonnes of spoil will be dumped in the marine park area if all seven proposed port developments along the Queensland coast go ahead.

The federal government doesn't understand the scale and urgency of the threats facing the reef, she says.

Ms Wishart also warns that any significant impacts to the reef has the potential to "crush" the local tourism industry.

WWF Australia climate change spokeswoman Kellie Caught says restricting developments near the reef would ensure it had more chance to withstand the impacts of climate change.

"It's about reef resilience," she told AAP.

Ms Caught says Australia needs stronger pollution reduction targets and a price and limit on pollution to reduce the impacts of climate change.

"Not taking action right now increases the risk of losing our unique places like the Great Barrier Reef and the lifestyle we cherish," she said.