Our elected representatives can’t have it both ways. Climate change is the number one threat to the Great Barrier Reef and only concerted action to cut pollution will fully protect it.
In response to the Turnbull Government’s federal budget funding package for the Great Barrier Reef, Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Chief Executive Officer, Kelly O’Shanassy, said:
“The Turnbull Government’s $500 million investment in water quality improvements, research and crown of thorns eradication is an important step towards bolstering the resilience of our Great Barrier Reef. But we can only guarantee a healthy reef for future generations by halting the climate pollution that is fuelling global warming, and which in turn is driving mass coral bleaching and ocean acidification.
“Australia must do its fair share globally to eradicate climate pollution. That means swiftly transitioning from digging up and burning dirty coal to embracing clean energy from the sun and the wind, along with storage solutions.
“Support for more dirty coal, like backing the Adani mega-mine and pushing lowball pollution reduction targets under national energy policy, is inconsistent with a healthy Great Barrier Reef.
“Our elected representatives can’t have it both ways. Climate change is the number one threat to the Great Barrier Reef and only concerted action to cut pollution will fully protect it.
“ACF and WWF Australia have also identified in our joint federal budget submission that $475 million a year needs to be invested to meet targets for water quality improvements across the Great Barrier Reef that have been promised to the international community.”
