- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority releases new map showing high coral bleaching levels from south of the Reef all the way up to Cape York
- Queensland Government's 75% emissions reduction target by 2035 will help tackle climate change and help protect the Great Barrier Reef
- Majority of Queenslanders polled support the 75% emissions reduction target, with LNP voters preferring to support it
New polling shows that Queenslanders support the state government's 75% carbon emissions reduction target to battle climate change, as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Reef Authority released a new map today showing the horrible extent of coral bleaching.
The Queensland Government will table bills in parliament today to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2035 to combat climate change, which is driving the marine heatwaves that have caused the fifth mass coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef in eight years.
The new map released by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in the Reef Snapshot today shows high levels of coral bleaching from the south of the Reef all the way up to Cape York. The Australian Institute of Marine Science also released detailed data today illustrating the severity of the bleaching that was not included in the snapshot. This data shows that 80% of reefs surveyed in the southern section of the Reef experienced extreme bleaching - more than 90% of the coral cover bleached.
The poll of 1110 Queenslanders shows that the majority (61%) support the government's 75% emissions reduction target and the LNP voting for the Clean Economy Jobs bill, with only 19% not supporting and 20% undecided. The poll conducted by leading online data company the Online Research Unit (THEORU) shows that LNP voters prefer supporting the target, with more LNP voters supporting the target (45%) than not supporting it (32%).
AMCS Great Barrier Reef Campaign Manager Dr Lissa Schindler said: "Climate change is the greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef, driving the marine heatwaves that are causing the mass coral bleaching events on the Reef and around the world. The new map and detailed data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science show the devastating extent of coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef from the far south all the way up to Cape York.
"The world must dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions to battle climate change, and Queensland must play its part as we have so much to lose. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's biggest coral reef system, home to thousands of species and powering a $6.4 billion tourism industry and supporting 64,000 jobs.
"This poll shows that the majority of Queenslanders asked support the government's 75% emissions reduction target. Queenslanders care deeply about the Reef. We need both major parties committing to strong climate action to protect our Reef and the thousands of regional jobs it supports."
The Online Research Unit polled 1110 Queenslanders - 510 people from the south-east, 300 from Cairns and 300 from other Great Barrier Reef Local Government Areas - from 29 March to 8 April. The poll found:
- The majority of Queenslanders (61%) support the state government's 75% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, while only 19% don't support it, with 20% undecided.
- LNP voters prefer supporting the target (45%), with less than a third (32%) not supporting it and 23% undecided.
