Antinuclear

Greens the only Party in Queensland serious about Climate Change

“I think the key thing is that the Greens are the only political party standing in Queensland, giving Queenslanders the opportunity to vote against the expansion of coal seam gas and against the expansion of coal mines and coal ports,” Ms Milne said.

Queensland election: World looking at ‘fossil-fuel free existence’ Brisbane Times 12 Jan 15 Tony Moore brisbanetimes.com.au senior reporter The world is beginning to consider a “fossil-fuel free” existence as soon as 2050, according to Australian Greens leader Senator Christine Milne.

Ms Milne will join the Queensland state election campaign on Monday having recently returned from a climate summit in Lima, Peru. In the negotiating texts – for the (future) Paris agreement, one of the options is for a fossil-fuel free world by 2050,” Ms Milne said.

The United Nations climate change conference – also attended by Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop – was held in Lima from December 1-12.

The long-serving Greens senator agreed it was “still early days” and the text would most likely be opposed by Australia, Saudi Arabia and other countries before the final United Nations talks in December 2015.

“But the fact that you even have in a negotiating text at this point one of the options being a fossil-fuel free world by 2050 shows you the recognition it is getting,” she said.

“If you are serious about climate science – serious about addressing global warming – then a rapid transition to a renewable energy-powered world is on.”……..

Ms Milne said many people had noticed the decision by several major financial bodies to no longer back more marginal coal projects.

“The rapid growth in the divestment movement has surprised everybody around the world,” Ms Milne said.

“We are seeing superannuation funds, some of the leading pension funds, some of the banks are moving out of coal assets because they recognise that the market is going to drop.

“China is now capping the import of coal and with the rapid expansion of renewables around the planet.”

Ms Milne said these factors showed The Greens remain a relevant political force because coal power was a “sunset industry”.

“I think the key thing is that the Greens are the only political party standing in Queensland, giving Queenslanders the opportunity to vote against the expansion of coal seam gas and against the expansion of coal mines and coal ports,” Ms Milne said.

Ms Milne said The Greens remained a viable alternative because many voters disagreed with the emphasis placed on the coal industry by both major parties.

“So for Queenslanders who do not want to see public money used to subsidise the expansion of what will be stranded assets – as the world moves rapidly away from fossil fuels – then The Greens are the answer,” she said.

She said Queensland has “fantastic renewable energy resources”.

But she said the Queensland Government only saw a future for coal-based energy and was concentrating its efforts on new coal projects in the Galilee Basin……….

Ms Milne will speak at the Mt Coot-tha Lookout – overlooking Brisbane – on Monday morning. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-state-election-2015/queensland-election-world-looking-at-fossilfuel-free-existence-20150111-12m235.html

January 12, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Queensland