Published Tuesday, 20 November, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Climate Change Consequences Now Beyond Doubt
The potentially devastating environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change on Queensland have been re-inforced in this week’s United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said the report’s conclusions should finally discredit the few remaining climate change sceptics who refuse to accept the potential dire consequences of doing nothing.
Mr McNamara said the report identified that the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland Wet Tropics are at risk as soon as 2020 if global warming continues unabated.
“If nothing is done, agriculture and forestry are likely to suffer from increased drought and fire by 2030,” Mr McNamara said.
“By that time, severe changes in rainfall patterns across southern and eastern Australia will cause water shortages and the development of expanded arid areas.
“These scenarios are stated in the report with very high confidence or high confidence of occurring in the absence of action on climate change.
“The impact on the Reef and Wet Tropics could devastate the state’s tourism industry and the businesses and communities which depend on it.
“A reduction in arable land for primary produce and livestock will affect product availability and increase prices, causing pressure on families and businesses in many rural and regional communities.
“The glimmer of good news in the report is that it is not too late to do something about climate change, and, as the report states, “many impacts can be reduced, delayed or avoided by mitigation”.”
Mr McNamara said the report removes any doubt that climate change is real and needs to be addressed now.
“I hope that the Federal and State National Party climate change sceptics will now stop regarding current meteorological and climatic conditions as nothing more than a prolonged drought,” Mr McNamara said.
“Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, stated recently: “there is conflicting scientific evidence on climate change, and we need to continue to analyse that”.
“Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy, Shane Knuth, is on the record in the Queensland Parliament saying that: “the terms ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ are both emotive terms designed to frighten people into accepting unsubstantiated facts”.
“In contrast to the Coalition’s position of climate change denial, the track record of the Queensland Government is one of action.
“We created the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence to advise Queenslanders how to best prepare for the impacts of climate change, and devise measures to further reduce and offset the State’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“ClimateSmart2050 is the Queensland Government’s co-ordinated response to the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change, and lays the foundation for future government policies and programs.
“The $414 million ClimateSmart2050 package, which is in addition to a $300 million investment in clean coal technology, includes a range of initiatives to support renewable and low emission energy generation, and programs to encourage energy saving and efficiency.
“ClimateSmart Adaption 2007-2012 identifies priority actions to be taken in the next five years to adjust to potential social, environmental and economic impacts of a changing climate, to build community awareness and understanding of changes ahead.”
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said the report’s conclusions should finally discredit the few remaining climate change sceptics who refuse to accept the potential dire consequences of doing nothing.
Mr McNamara said the report identified that the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland Wet Tropics are at risk as soon as 2020 if global warming continues unabated.
“If nothing is done, agriculture and forestry are likely to suffer from increased drought and fire by 2030,” Mr McNamara said.
“By that time, severe changes in rainfall patterns across southern and eastern Australia will cause water shortages and the development of expanded arid areas.
“These scenarios are stated in the report with very high confidence or high confidence of occurring in the absence of action on climate change.
“The impact on the Reef and Wet Tropics could devastate the state’s tourism industry and the businesses and communities which depend on it.
“A reduction in arable land for primary produce and livestock will affect product availability and increase prices, causing pressure on families and businesses in many rural and regional communities.
“The glimmer of good news in the report is that it is not too late to do something about climate change, and, as the report states, “many impacts can be reduced, delayed or avoided by mitigation”.”
Mr McNamara said the report removes any doubt that climate change is real and needs to be addressed now.
“I hope that the Federal and State National Party climate change sceptics will now stop regarding current meteorological and climatic conditions as nothing more than a prolonged drought,” Mr McNamara said.
“Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, stated recently: “there is conflicting scientific evidence on climate change, and we need to continue to analyse that”.
“Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy, Shane Knuth, is on the record in the Queensland Parliament saying that: “the terms ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ are both emotive terms designed to frighten people into accepting unsubstantiated facts”.
“In contrast to the Coalition’s position of climate change denial, the track record of the Queensland Government is one of action.
“We created the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence to advise Queenslanders how to best prepare for the impacts of climate change, and devise measures to further reduce and offset the State’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“ClimateSmart2050 is the Queensland Government’s co-ordinated response to the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change, and lays the foundation for future government policies and programs.
“The $414 million ClimateSmart2050 package, which is in addition to a $300 million investment in clean coal technology, includes a range of initiatives to support renewable and low emission energy generation, and programs to encourage energy saving and efficiency.
“ClimateSmart Adaption 2007-2012 identifies priority actions to be taken in the next five years to adjust to potential social, environmental and economic impacts of a changing climate, to build community awareness and understanding of changes ahead.”
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004