October 11, 2024
Bipartisan support for climate action in Queensland was celebrated by all parents when the LNP Opposition voted to legislate Queensland’s 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target in April 2024.
Nic Seton, CEO of Parents for Climate, said Queensland parents want to see the agreed 2035 emissions targets achieved, as promised, by future Queensland Governments.
But Mr Seton said recent comments by party leader David Crisafulli, suggesting that an LNP government would keep coal-fired power stations open ‘indefinitely’, have alarmed Queensland parents who want climate action for their kids.
“Queensland is already a world leader in rooftop solar uptake, with many families enjoying the financial benefits of lower energy bills,” said Mr Seton.
“And Queensland schools have led the country in installing air conditioning powered by cheap rooftop solar, to keep kids safe now and into the future. We want to see these initiatives extended to childcares and to the households that are currently locked out of these savings.
“Coal fired power stations should be closed as soon as possible to protect our kids and the next generation. We need to get on with the job of building a cleaner future, not spooking investment in clean energy by suggesting indefinite extensions of dirty, expensive coal stations.
“We want to see the LNP be true to their word, and meet their promise of reducing emissions by 75% by 2035. Extending coal-fired power stations puts at risk the target that the LNP voted for and that Queensland parents want to see achieved.
“The LNP needs to confirm that it will continue to roll out wind, solar, hydro and batteries at a rate that will allow coal generators to close as soon as possible.
“We’ve had constructive meetings with the Queensland LNP before, and we look forward to being able to discuss our ideas with the Opposition Leader as soon as possible.”
ENDS
Media contacts:
Nic Seton, CEO Parents for Climate: 0407 638 973, nic@parentsforclimate.org
BACKGROUND:
Parents for Climate’s Solar Our Learning campaign
Parents for Climate has campaigned since 2020 for governments to support clean energy retrofits for schools and early childhood centres, and has been at the forefront of securing renewable energy in schools, such as the NSW Smart Energy School Pilot Project. Their 2024 Solar Our Learning report highlighted the need and benefits of extending these programs to the early childhood sector, which is currently unsupported to access clean energy.
Parents for Climate’s report into the child health impacts of worsening heatwaves
Parents for Climate’s 2023 report Hothouse Australia: Our kids at risk as heat soars, in collaboration with health advocacy group Sweltering Cities, highlights that millions of children, including over 760,000 children living in poverty in Australia, face heightened risks to their health and education from exposure to extreme summer heat in homes, schools and childcare centres. Around 3 in 4 lower-income households, already making hard choices to keep food on the table, are also likely to cut back on the use of air conditioning and cooling appliances due to cost pressures, despite living in poorly insulated and energy-inefficient homes.
ABOUT PARENTS FOR CLIMATE
Parents for Climate is Australia’s leading climate advocacy organisation for parents, carers, families and all who care about a safe future for kids, representing over 22,000 parents. Founded in 2019 by six regional, rural and urban mums in four states and territories, Parents for Climate is a parent organisation, run by parents for parents. Parents for Climate exists to secure ambitious climate action for the love of our kids.
