A key focus of the Reef 2050 plan is to improve water quality, which will increase the reef’s resilience in the medium term, while global efforts work to reduce climate change over the longer term.
“The bleaching event has led to anti-coal activists chanting their all or none slogans – it’s either coal or the reef – when in fact what we need is less grandstanding and political games, and instead adopt a level-headed approach to the global problem of reducing emissions,” the QRC said.
“Australian coal is amongst the highest quality coal in the world, helping to power cleaner, more efficient power plants. And let’s not forget, coal is used to make coke, an essential element, for which there is no substitute, in the steel making process.
“Without coal, we would not have anything made from steel, nor would we be able to power homes and businesses. The Greens are quick to forget that when the sun goes down or the wind stops blowing, not only do the products from the resources sector make up components of renewables, coal provides the back-up power to keep us out of the dark.”
The Great Barrier Reef bleaching event is a sign that regardless of agendas, all industries, governments and organisations must work together to reduce impacts upon the reef, the QRC said.
“The Queensland Resources Council has been at the table, in conjunction with other stakeholders, working on the implementation of the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan,” it said.
“Experts say that the healthier the reef, the greater the protection against the three great threats of water quality, the Crown of Thorns Starfish, and bleaching.”
