22 February 2008
Brisbane is faced with spiralling greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles** and this will get far worse as traffic clogs up the proposed LA style tunnels and bridges. We desperately need to change Council funding priorities from car tunnels to public transport to have any chance to slash emissions. The much awaited Garnaut report tells us once again that Australia will be severely affected by climate change and that big reductions in emissions are needed.
Ms Jo Bragg, Green’s Lord Mayoral
Candidate said today,
“Any ten year old school child
today knows that walking, cycling
and buses are better for the environment than cars. It is an absolute disgrace
that both Liberal and Labor Councillors are backing construction of car tunnels
and the discredited Hale Street Bridge at this time of carbon crisis and peak
oil.’
Ms Bragg continued
“ Professor Ian Lowe was commissioned by Council to make recommendations on how to slash emissions. Both Council Liberal and Labor Parties ignored one of his ongoing important messages to radically change our transport system and to slash emissions from transport. Labor and Liberal Councillors pump out “green wash” --small initiatives such as the carbon meter while they actively and inexcusably promote more car use by building tunnels and bridges. The interim Garnaut report underlines the urgency
of taking real action right now to slash emissions.”
Ms Bragg posed a question. “How many climate change reports marked “urgent” does it take to change Council’s tunnel vision?
“The answer: We can’t wait to count --we need Greens elected to Council on March 15. Only the Greens are serious about investing real money in alternative transport such as light rail and cycling.”
Ms Bragg added, “ Only the Greens candidates cycled or caught public transport to their own campaign launch- Campbell Newman’s candidates came in 26 cars.”
Ms Bragg continued “Brisbane people will suffer ill effects of climate change. Our climate will get hotter and drier, our rainfall unpredictable, our soils will have less moisture making it harder to retain trees, our climate sensitive vegetation will die out. We will experience more mosquito carried illnesses.”
** the transport sector and the industrial sector are the sectors where Brisbane carbon emissions are growing fastest
