Local environmentalists have collected nearly 800 signatures on a petition, demanding action on climate change.
Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) spokesperson Vivien Griffin presented the petition to local MP and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss with the message: “We need to ride the wave of a post-carbon century, not be dumped by it”.
Former Noosa Councillor Ms Griffin said: “As a coastal community, highly dependent on tourism, we must insist that our government take this issue seriously It is no longer acceptable to avoid action by waiting for other nations to come on board. Someone has to show leadership.
“We all know the litany of changes that we must consider, from heatwaves, more intense rain events, droughts, floods, ocean warming and acidification, even dengue fever. All these issues have potential to have grave impact on the Noosa community and economy.”
The Climate Change Authority has said Queensland is particularly vulnerable to climate change.
“They have identified that more than $50 billion in commercial, industrial, road and rail and residential assets in Queensland are potentially exposed to flooding and erosion caused if sea levels rise by 1.1 metres, making it the most at-risk state for these types of assets,” Ms Griffin said.
“The Australian Government is required to advise the United Nations in April what its emission reduction target for 2020 will be.
“Currently the Australian government target reduction is five per cent against 2000 figures. This target would leave future generations and communities to achieve an implausibly rapid acceleration of effort beyond 2020. Failing to do more in the short-term is likely to increase future costs and cause unnecessary disruption to the economy and community more broadly.”
SCEC is calling on Mr Truss to set a much higher goal, requesting that the Australian Government set a target of 40 per cent reduction.
“As Treasurer Joe Hockey has noted in a different context, we need to take the tough decisions now so we don’t face near impossible decisions later,” Ms Griffin said.
