State leaders demand urgent climate action to protect Reef

State, territory and local governments have called on the Federal Government to ramp up Australia’s climate change policy and to provide certainty for investors in renewable energy in a roundtable meeting in Cairns.

Minister for the Great Barrier Reef Dr Steven Miles today (Friday) released details of the communique prior to a Great Barrier Reef tour with Climate Action Roundtable attendees to view the condition of coral following the mass bleaching event.

“I’m pleased leaders from across the country accepted my invitation to come to Cairns.

“We had a very useful discussion about collaborating together to encourage stronger national action and to work together on climate change policies for our states and cities.

“Today I’ll show them why that work is so important. We are going to see the direct result of climate change in our reef waters,” Dr Miles said.

“Sadly, just last week, we learned there have been increased reports of coral bleaching and disease from offshore Mackay to the Far North.

“We know the reef is under severe stress and it is essential we do everything in our power to support its recovery. Improving the quality of water flowing to the reef is critical to building its resilience.”

Dr Miles said the Palaszczuk Government is committed to protecting the reef.

“We take our obligations to Queenslanders, the international community and UNESCO very seriously,” Dr Miles said.

“While much good work is being done by business, industry and the many dedicated landholders using best management practices, we know more needs to happen to improve the health of our waterways and the reef.

“We also know that clean, healthy water and a resilient reef makes good economic sense, particularly when we’re talking about the many reef-reliant industries worth some $6 billion a year to the Australian economy,” Dr Miles said.

ENDS

Media: Katharine Wright 0422 580 342

Communique

We, the members of the Climate Action Roundtable, have a common commitment to ambitious climate change action to meet the climate goals laid out in the Paris Agreement, and to a just transition to low carbon societies.

URGENCY OF ACTION

We witness the devastating effects of a warming climate across the Australian landscape and on all the sectors of our community, as clearly evidenced by warmer ocean temperatures harming our Great Barrier Reef. As subnational governments leading on climate action, we acknowledge the urgency of the need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and where possible to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

We congratulate the Victorian Government on their Climate Change Act passed today, that legislates a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and setting five yearly interim targets to set out the pathways to reach it.

Victoria's example, and the work of other Australian states, territories and cities to address the impacts of climate change show the Commonwealth Government how to deliver on the commitments that Prime Minister Turnbull signed up to at the COP21 in Paris.

We look to the Commonwealth Government to put aside partisan debates and work with the community, business, cities, states and territories to deliver a plan that moves Australia to the net zero emission target by 2050 required by the Paris agreement.

2017 NATIONAL REVIEW

We underline the importance of the Australian Government being resolute in its commitment to all aspects of the Paris Agreement. We highlight the need for the Australian Government to use its review of Australia’s climate change policies to establish and implement policies that enable Australia to play its full part in efforts to hold global average temperature increase to well below 2°C and actively pursue efforts to keep warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

We note that for Australia to play its full part in holding warming well below 2°C, Australia’s emissions will be required to be net-zero by the second half of this century. It is therefore imperative that Australia’s 2030 target for emissions reductions is set at a level consistent with the cost-effective delivery of the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

We call on the Australian Government to use the national review to establish the foundations for a bipartisan approach to climate change policy which provides business, investors and society with certainty over Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy. This requires the urgent and effective integration of energy and climate policy, as well as the integration of climate policy with other key areas including transport, planning, building and agriculture. We emphasise the need for certainty in policy for business, investors and society, and note the importance of implementing cost-effective measures that enable Australia to seize the opportunities for sustainable economic development and enhanced international competitiveness that the shift to a net-zero emissions economy presents.

In this light, we commit to collaborating in consideration of the national review and responding in a way that demonstrates the shared interests of states, territories and cities in the development and implementation of an effective national policy framework for reducing Australia’s emissions over the coming decades.

FORWARD WORK PROGRAM

Each of our sub-national jurisdictions is already working to achieve the transition to net zero emissions in every sector of our economies and societies. By working collectively we can magnify the impact of our interventions and more quickly realise of the advantages of moving to more efficient, clean and smart economies that are fit for the 21^st century.

We therefore commit to exploring further where collaboration between our jurisdictions can deliver improved climate change outcomes. Further to the discussions at our first meeting, we will focus our consideration in the following areas:

• Energy efficient built environment, to be led by Australian Capital Territory
• The transition to renewable energy including energy storage and low emission vehicles, to be led by South Australia
• Partnership opportunities, to be led by Queensland.

We pledge jointly to consider our responses to the national review and will report back on the specific opportunities for significant joint enterprise at our next meeting within six months at the invitation of South Australia.