Queensland on world stage in global efforts on climate change

Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch and Health Minister Steven Miles joined an all-star panel of world leaders, climate and health experts and entertainers for an online event hosted by former US Vice President Al Gore today.

Coordinated by the Climate Reality Project, the worldwide 24 Hours of Reality: Protect Our Planet, Protect Ourselves event started today and is continuing to be broadcast live at www.24hoursofreality.org.

Minister Enoch said the event would see community, health care and government leaders brainstorm ideas to help solve climate issues and protect the health of families and communities everywhere.

“The world-wide broadcast will also be an opportunity to show what the Palaszczuk Government is doing to protect the future of the Great barrier Reef,” Ms Enoch said.

“Our iconic reef is the yardstick when it comes to measuring the effects of climate change and this simulcast is a chance to demonstrate how we are giving the Great Barrier Reef the best chance of survival through a record $330 million in funding, and targets to reduce emissions and move towards renewables.

“But unfortunately, at a time when the world’s leading climate scientists are telling us we need to tackle climate change head on, we have a Federal Government that refuses to act.

“In our backyard, climate change is the biggest threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef and that is why we need a solid national framework for climate action.

“The Federal Government needs to step up and lead a national strategy to tackle this issue, instead of dancing around the issue, hoping it will just disappear.”

The Palaszczuk Government has set a target for zero emissions by 2050.

Minister Steven Miles said Queensland was currently in the midst of a record heatwave. 

“These temperatures on consecutive days are unprecedented in November. Some towns that had never before experienced consecutive days above 38 degrees experienced 4 in a row,” Mr Miles said. 

“Temperatures were up to 10 degrees above average. 

“This has huge impacts. Heat-related illness can be extremely serious and infants, the elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.” 

“At one stage firefighters were battling more than 165 individual fires. Queensland has only once before reached a catastrophic fire danger level – and that was just for an hour in an isolated area in 2012. Last week it was declared over much of the state.” 

In a separate event, former US Vice President Al Gore will also visit Brisbane in June 2019 to conduct climate change leadership training for up to 1000 business and community leaders from Australia and the region.

The three-day event – facilitated by the Climate Reality Project - will take place at the Brisbane Convention Centre from 5 to 7 June 2019, where business and community leaders will be trained as advocates for climate action. 

Further details about the 24 Hours of Reality: Protect Our Planet, Protect Ourselves and to watch visit https://www.24hoursofreality.org/#crp-24-about.

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