Barrier Reef bleaching to highlight need for climate action at Cairns roundtable

Political leaders from around the country are meeting in Cairns this afternoon (Thursday) to discuss how they can collaborate to reduce carbon greenhouse pollution, ahead of visiting the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles – who called for the Climate Action Roundtable to be held in Cairns – said participants would work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“The first roundtable was held in Canberra last August, and I asked for the second meeting to be in Cairns because I felt politicians were not properly seeing that we are already experiencing the effects of climate change,” Dr Miles said.

“I wanted to bring leaders from across the country to Far North Queensland to show them the damage already being done to the Great Barrier Reef because I think it will motivate them to do more to address climate change.

“It is disturbing scientists have confirmed the largest die-off of corals ever recorded on the reef north of Cairns.

“Once a national leader on climate change, Queensland was left behind when other governments rapidly embraced the transition to a clean energy economy because the LNP systematically dismantled our forward-thinking policies.

“The Palaszczuk Government is revitalising climate change action. In the State Budget, I announced an additional investment of $6.8 million over four years to lead the development of the government’s climate change strategies.

“This is on top of the $12 million over 3 years we are investing in QCoast2100 and $3 million to develop Q-CAS, the Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy (Q-CAS).

“We’ve also committed $100 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef over five years and have increased surveillance of reef areas affected by coral bleaching,” he said.

South Australia’s Minister for Climate Change Ian Hunter said the roundtable would see like-minded state, territory and local government representatives sharing perspectives on actions needed to reduce carbon pollution and transition to clean energy economies.

“After the Federal Government signed the Paris agreement to reduce carbon emissions, states and territories are now stepping up to share the responsibility to reduce carbon pollution and build resilience to climate change,” Mr Hunter said.

“It is important that we come together, and work together and work hard to achieve this objective.

“I wanted to come to Cairns to hear and see how the Great Barrier Reef in particular is already being affected, with scientists saying there was now indisputable evidence that climate change is harming the reef – including last summer’s worst-ever bleaching event,” he said.

States & Regions Director of London-based The Climate Group, Libby Ferguson, will also attend the roundtable. The Climate Group brings together the world’s most influential state and regional governments to accelerate the global transition to a low carbon economy.

Ms Ferguson said state governments were consistently showing how tackling climate change was good for their citizens, economies and for the environment.

“Australian states are demonstrating the art of the possible, ensuring that Australia is positioned to reap the benefits of the low carbon economy in the absence of a unified national approach," she said.

“Collaboration between all levels of governments is crucial in achieving a coordinated response on climate change, which in turn can spur more prosperous economies and more sustainable societies".

Dr Miles said roundtable delegates would tomorrow (Friday) inspect parts of the Great Barrier Reef with marine and climate scientists from the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute and James Cook University.

“I want them to see first-hand just how one of our national icons is suffering under warmer ocean temperatures,” Dr Miles said.

“I’m hoping the outcome is more action between cities, states and territories because there is a lot more we can be doing together to make a difference – in areas like transport and planning, and energy and building efficiency.

“We invited the Federal Environment Minister (Josh Frydenberg) to attend the roundtable, and it’s a shame he isn’t coming.

“I’ve been consistently asking him and the previous Minister (Greg Hunt) to visit the reef with me to talk about how their inaction is causing problems like bleaching,” Dr Miles said.

ENDS

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