Reminder to Queensland Ministers: Coal Causes Climate Change
5th of Jun, 2009
This World Environment Day, Friday 5 June, concerned citizens from across Brisbane joined with Six Degrees to declare Government Ministers' Offices "Global Warming Crime-scenes" to deliver a clear message that their inaction on phasing out coal in the face of climate change makes them utterly negligent.
Six Degrees spokesperson Bradley Smith said:
With the government about to release its new revision of the so called "Climate Smart Strategy", we are here to give a clear message that Queenslanders expect a responsible approach to climate change.
Unless this strategy begins to reduce Queensland’s dependence on coal it will be both irresponsible and ineffective, and there is nothing smart about that.
Without dealing with the coal issue, there will be nothing 'smart' about it.
We will remind the ministers that coal is by far Queensland’s biggest contributor to climate change and the safest and most responsible place for coal is in the ground.
This message was delivered in a colourful display between from 7:30 to 9:00am this morning to the electoral offices of Stephen Robertson - Minister for Natural Resources Mines and Energy, Kate Jones - Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability and Premier Anna Bligh.
Citizens at Robertson’s office confronted the Minister who refused to be engaged on the question of coal exports. When questioned about the “Climate Smart” strategy he repeated the government’s commitment to the coal industry, despite its obvious climate change impacts.
Briefing papers on the need to address coal in the Climate Smart strategy were distributed to staff in the offices, and also circulated to the media (download the World Environment Day Briefing).
According to Mr Smith:
Our message is clear: If Queensland is to have an effective and realistic response to climate change – action on coal is absolutely required.
The Queensland government has been shamefully irresponsible on climate change and has failed the Queensland people by allowing the state to become the world's largest coal exporter, rather than a leader in building a sustainable economy.
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