Our wildlife and home under threat
Australia’s koala populations face a very real prospect of extinction due to habitat destruction and the impacts of climate change.
Coal from mines in Queensland is mostly exported and burned overseas, creating pollution that is heating the Earth’s atmosphere and threatening ecosystems and species the world over.
No matter where pollution from Australia’s coal is produced, the impacts on Australia’s natural environment are felt.
State governments are also responsible for approving new coal mines and coal mine expansions.
The Queensland Conservation Council has recommended that the QLD state government:
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Protect koala habitats from clearing for coal and gas projects
Put in place an immediate moratorium on the clearing of any further koala habitat for coal and gas and review environmental approvals of projects approved to impact on koala habitat in the last two years;
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Protect native forests
Phase out native forest logging in QLD;
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Reject approvals for new coal mines and expansions
Reject any approvals for new coal mines and expansions, including those that impact koalas and greater gliders and other threatened species to address the threat of extinction from habitat destruction and climate change;
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End reliance on biodiversity offsets
End the reliance on biodiversity offsets that enable destruction of critical koala and greater glider habitat;
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Commit to rapid phase out of fossil fuels
Commit to a rapid phase out of fossil fuels, to safeguard endangered species like the koala from the devastating impacts of climate collapse;
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Enact new state based nature laws
Enact strong new or updated state-based nature laws that effectively protect threatened species and their habitat as well as comprehensively assess the climate impacts of proposed coal projects.