Queensland Environment Minister and former US Vice President Al Gore in 24 Hours of Climate Reality

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles has taken part in former US Vice President Al Gore’s special 24-hour global broadcast to combat climate change.

Queensland’s first Minister for the Great Barrier Reef was invited by Mr Gore to participate in today's “call to action to take on the greatest challenge of our time’.

24 Hours of Reality: The Road Forward” was expected to attract a global audience of millions across several continents.

Dr Miles, who in 2007 trained with Al Gore while he was in Australia to become one of his Climate Reality Leaders, recorded his segment in Melbourne with former Australian of the Year, Dr Tim Flannery.

Other participants included Californian Governor Jerry Brown; Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon; and media personalities Ryan Reynolds, Edward Norton and Julia Louis Dreyfus.

Dr Miles said the impact of climate change on Queensland’s iconic Great Barrier Reef was again causing global concern.

"New survey results show roughly two thirds of coral mortality on the northern sections of the reef because of coral bleaching,” Dr Miles said.

“Last year UNESCO did not list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger – in large part thanks to the reef protection platform the Palaszczuk Government took to the election.

“Just last Friday, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre was updated on the progress being made through joint Commonwealth and Queensland measures to protect and improve the Great Barrier Reef.

“That progress report demonstrated to the global community just how serious the Palaszczuk Government is about implementing our Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan.

“In the joint report, we re-assured the global community that we understand the role land clearing plays in driving pollutants on to the reef, and will act on land clearing as soon as a majority of members in Parliament are willing to put the reef ahead of their petty political interests,” he said.

Dr Miles said The Climate Reality Project’s sixth-annual 24 Hours of Reality broadcast was a great platform to maximise global reach.

“The Climate Reality project is one of the world’s leading organisations dedicated to mobilising actions around climate change, with a global movement more than five million strong, and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leaders,” he said.

ENDS

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