- Queensland's new Energy Roadmap, which extends the life of coal power stations and doubles gas generation, will make the State's climate target impossible to achieve.
- Prolonging coal will fuel hotter oceans, more intense marine heatwaves and more coral bleaching.
- Failing to act on climate now risks the Reef and its World Heritage status, Queensland's tourism industry and tens of thousands of regional jobs.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said the Queensland Government's Energy Roadmap released today will make it impossible for Queensland to meet its 75% emissions reduction target by 2035. That target formed a key part of Australia's commitment to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to keep the Great Barrier Reef off the World Heritage in Danger list.
AMCS Great Barrier Reef Campaigns Manager Dr Lissa Schindler said:
"The Queensland government made a commitment to the World Heritage Committee to tackle the Reef's greatest threat – climate change – by cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2035. That promise helped keep the Reef off the World Heritage in Danger list. Extending the life of coal fired power stations will make it impossible for Queensland to now meet that commitment.
"The World Heritage Committee will review the management of the Reef next year. With little progress made over the past two years on tackling threats to the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland now walking back on climate commitments, there is a very strong chance the Reef will be recommended for the 'in Danger' list next year.
"The Reef has already suffered six mass bleaching events in the past nine years, driven by marine heatwaves caused by climate change. Every extra year of burning coal means more carbon pollution, hotter oceans and more coral bleaching. This is the opposite of what the Reef needs.
"Queensland has more than $10 billion worth of renewable energy and storage projects underway. Clean energy is already creating jobs in regional communities and helping to keep power prices down. The future for Queenslanders is renewable, not coal.
"Queenslanders want affordable energy, secure jobs and a healthy Reef. Extending coal power and doubling gas usage does none of those things."
"The Great Barrier Reef is home to thousands of species and supports a $6 billion tourism industry. Its future depends on the choices we make today. Queensland must choose clean energy and climate action, or risk losing the Reef and the livelihoods that depend on it."
