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Mass extinction crisis demands climate change action around the globe - Greens


Senator Bob Brown
07/10/2008

The mass of extinctions now underway (see IUCN red list report today) underscores the urgent need for the global community to tackle human-induced climate change, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

"Unlike when the dinosaurs went to extinction 65 million years ago, this onrush of mass extinctions of species is preventable. It will take coordinated international action, but action must begin at home," Senator Brown said.

"Environment Minister Peter Garrett should be leading this campaign. The most obvious first action is to stop the clear-felling and burning of native forests and woodlands, which are the habitat of scores of rare and endangered species, and which hold back megatonnes of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

"The plight of the Tasmanian Devil is a case in point. Labor governments in Hobart and Canberra are using taxpayers' money to foster clear-fell logging and to promote Gunns' pulp mill, which will lead to the destruction of 200,000 hectares of species-rich native forests. And most of the wood gained from this destructive logging ends up on ships going overseas to make throw away products.

"Right now, one of Australia's most stunning endangered species, the Swift Parrot has it prime nesting site in Tasmania's Wielangta Forest targeted for logging by Gunns, backed by both the Bartlett and Rudd governments, including federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.

"This is a crime against nature," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown also commented on the Australian Industry Group's submission to the government's Green Paper.

"Where is the Australian Industry Group's assessment of the number of jobs that will be lost when the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo Reef and Kakadu are lost to climate change? Or its assessment of the number of green-collar jobs that will be created in renewable energy and energy efficiency under an emissions trading scheme?" Senator Brown asked.

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Ebony Bennett
Media Advisor
Senator Bob Brown | Leader of the Australian Greens
e: ebony.bennett@aph.gov.au
m: 0409 164 603 | p: (02) 6277 3170 | f: (02) 6277 3185
w: www.bobbrown.org.au <http://www.bobbrown.org.au/>   <http://www.greens.org.au>

 

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