Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
World Environment Day – Kick the Carbon Habit
Queensland’s record in limiting greenhouse gas generation relative to the rest of the world has been highlighted today on World Environment Day.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara said the theme of this year’s day - ‘kick the CO2 habit: towards a low carbon economy’ – is particularly relevant to Queenslanders.
Mr McNamara said the Queensland State of the Environment Report released earlier this year shows Queenslanders have a long way to go in reducing their ecological footprint.
“The report revealed Queenslanders are living a lifestyle which is depleting the earth’s resources at a rate more than three times the world average,” Mr McNamara said.
“Even though the Queensland per capita footprint is two percent lower than the Australian average, it is still contributing disproportionately to global over-consumption.
“For Queensland, just over half the footprint is related to energy consumption, which includes electricity generation and supply and motor vehicle use.
“This reflects the strong population and economic growth in the state which requires resources to house and feed people, as well as the increased energy required to service the state’s decentralised population base.
“It’s also a reflection of the level of affluence and comfort we enjoy, and the increased consumption that brings.
“If everyone in the world had the same footprint as the average Queensland resident, we would need four planets to live within ecological limits.
“We can change our lifestyles to make a difference simply, easily and relatively cheaply – this is the challenge of our times.”
Mr McNamara said World Environment Day is one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment.
He said that on World Environment Day 2008, we recognise that a rapidly growing population consuming more land, more energy and more water, while generating more waste, is putting pressure on the natural systems that support life.
“The specific issues of water security, cleaner energy and climate change are now more prominent than ever before,” Mr McNamara said.
“The Queensland Government takes seriously its responsibility to protect and preserve our environment so that it can sustain civilisation for centuries to come.
“Scientific consensus is that two degrees of global warming is already locked in because of past actions.
“Our challenge is to stop that getting any higher, and to find ways to offset the negative impacts of the two degrees already happening.
“A complex array of initiatives such as education programs, legislation and regulation, partnerships and research and monitoring programs all form part of the response directed towards conserving Queensland’s environment for future generations.
“The Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart Living campaign, led by the Environmental Protection Agency, is already helping Queenslanders kick the CO2 habit.
“In response to the campaign’s calls-to-action, Queenslanders have been reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by turning off their appliances at the wall, checking tyre pressure, and checking their fridge temperature, as well as changing to energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights.
“One person making one of these small changes might not seem like a big deal, but when hundreds of thousands of people take action, it makes a world of difference.”
Mr McNamara said these easy actions are all part of the Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart 2050 strategy, which will help ensure Queensland plays its part in meeting a national carbon reduction target of 60% below 2000 levels by the year 2050.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara said the theme of this year’s day - ‘kick the CO2 habit: towards a low carbon economy’ – is particularly relevant to Queenslanders.
Mr McNamara said the Queensland State of the Environment Report released earlier this year shows Queenslanders have a long way to go in reducing their ecological footprint.
“The report revealed Queenslanders are living a lifestyle which is depleting the earth’s resources at a rate more than three times the world average,” Mr McNamara said.
“Even though the Queensland per capita footprint is two percent lower than the Australian average, it is still contributing disproportionately to global over-consumption.
“For Queensland, just over half the footprint is related to energy consumption, which includes electricity generation and supply and motor vehicle use.
“This reflects the strong population and economic growth in the state which requires resources to house and feed people, as well as the increased energy required to service the state’s decentralised population base.
“It’s also a reflection of the level of affluence and comfort we enjoy, and the increased consumption that brings.
“If everyone in the world had the same footprint as the average Queensland resident, we would need four planets to live within ecological limits.
“We can change our lifestyles to make a difference simply, easily and relatively cheaply – this is the challenge of our times.”
Mr McNamara said World Environment Day is one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment.
He said that on World Environment Day 2008, we recognise that a rapidly growing population consuming more land, more energy and more water, while generating more waste, is putting pressure on the natural systems that support life.
“The specific issues of water security, cleaner energy and climate change are now more prominent than ever before,” Mr McNamara said.
“The Queensland Government takes seriously its responsibility to protect and preserve our environment so that it can sustain civilisation for centuries to come.
“Scientific consensus is that two degrees of global warming is already locked in because of past actions.
“Our challenge is to stop that getting any higher, and to find ways to offset the negative impacts of the two degrees already happening.
“A complex array of initiatives such as education programs, legislation and regulation, partnerships and research and monitoring programs all form part of the response directed towards conserving Queensland’s environment for future generations.
“The Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart Living campaign, led by the Environmental Protection Agency, is already helping Queenslanders kick the CO2 habit.
“In response to the campaign’s calls-to-action, Queenslanders have been reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by turning off their appliances at the wall, checking tyre pressure, and checking their fridge temperature, as well as changing to energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights.
“One person making one of these small changes might not seem like a big deal, but when hundreds of thousands of people take action, it makes a world of difference.”
Mr McNamara said these easy actions are all part of the Queensland Government’s ClimateSmart 2050 strategy, which will help ensure Queensland plays its part in meeting a national carbon reduction target of 60% below 2000 levels by the year 2050.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004