QCC launches election demands on climate, nature with yard sign blitz

Queensland’s peak environment group will put nature and climate firmly on the agenda this Federal Election with a boots-on-the-ground community campaign calling on political parties to protect native species and end coal and gas.

Today, Queensland Conservation Council has released its federal policy demands for the election, and has already started distributing thousands of yard signs to allow Queenslanders to show their support for strong action on climate and nature protection.

Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said

We are in a critical decade for climate action and nature protection. This election will be a key opportunity for political parties to step up and show they have what it takes to keep Queensland communities and nature safe.

We know voters are really stressed about the impacts climate change is having on them and their kids, and expect their Government to protect our koalas, greater gliders and 2000 other native species currently at risk of extinction.

We have already signed up dozens of volunteers to hit the streets in key communities handing out thousands of yard signs calling for action on climate and nature.

We are calling for both parties to commit to a long-promised overhaul of our 20-year-old federal nature laws, which have utterly failed to protect our incredible landscapes and wildlife.

The next Federal Government must urgently deliver more funding for nature, an independent Environment Protection Agency, and national environmental standards including comprehensive regional mapping to protect our forests, bushland, and marine ecosystems.

Queenslanders are still reeling from the impact of Cyclone Alfred and flooding up north, and extreme weather like this will become more likely under climate change.

We need a bipartisan commitment to ramping up renewable energy by 2030 to create jobs, cut pollution, and ensure cheaper, cleaner power for all.

The greatest risk to this is Peter Dutton’s nuclear fantasy plan to put dangerous, thirsty nuclear power plants in Queensland communities and supercharge climate change with dirty, expensive gas.

The LNP knows the public have rejected their nuclear thought bubble, because they want to see genuine climate action not prolonged reliance on fossil fuels.

Building our own renewable energy is not enough to keep Queensland communities safe from increasing climate disasters. We must address our major contribution to global emissions by stopping new coal and gas projects, transitioning away from fossil fuel exports and leading the shift towards green iron and aluminium.

We need to recognise that climate change is already here, with stronger climate adaptation and disaster resilience policies to protect communities, including our state’s beloved wildlife from worsening bushfires, floods, and extreme weather events like Cyclone Alfred.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be working with locals to send a clear message to candidates from across the political spectrum – if they are serious about representing their communities, they will commit to strong action on climate and nature this Federal Election.