Cyclone Alfred a "wake up call" on climate for Dutton, Albanese

As Queenslanders wait anxiously for ex-Cyclone Alfred to break up, the Queensland Conservation Council has today warned that our communities can expect more ferocious and frequent extreme weather events if politicians fail to take adequate action on climate change.

Queensland's peak environment body is raising alarm bells about Peter Dutton's nuclear scheme, in particular, which would keep Australians reliant on polluting coal and gas for decades to come.

Dave Copeman, Director, Queensland Conservation Council said

Cyclone Alfred is a wake-up call. If Australia keeps pumping out carbon pollution at the current rate we can expect more unnatural disasters, like this cyclone, more frequently.

It was good to see the Prime Minister being honest with Australians about the link between climate change and more frequent and extreme weather events. Now we would like to see both sides of politics take urgent action to bring down carbon pollution.

Protecting our communities and addressing climate change looks like urgently transitioning away from fossil fuels and stopping new polluting coal and gas extraction.

Peter Dutton’s scheme to halt the renewable energy rollout and wait for expensive nuclear power will drive up emissions and put Queenslanders more at risk of future flooding.

Dutton is using nuclear as a smokescreen to keep Australians reliant on polluting coal and gas for decades to come, prioritising the interests of fossil fuel billionaires over the safety of his fellow Queenslanders.

People should be angry. I know I am. It’s time that politicians put our communities ahead of profits for wealthy international fossil fuel companies.

We are calling on both parties to see Cyclone Alfred as a sign of things to come unless they take clear climate action to protect future generations of Australians.

Scientists have long warned that burning fossil fuels is making extreme weather events more frequent and more severe. Both the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO have reported that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of floods, heatwaves, and bushfires and the intensity of cyclones like Alfred.

Share Tweet Email