Reef Tourism Stands With Ambitious Emissions Reduction Plan

Tourism operators across the Great Barrier Reef have welcomed new Queensland emission reduction targets, taking active steps towards addressing the climate impacts on the Reef.

Earlier this week, the Queensland Government announced a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, of cutting emissions by 75 per cent, by 2035, which is a drastic increase of the previous 30 per cent by 2030 target.

Reef tourism operators are excited with this goal, which is in line to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, a critical temperature barrier for coral reefs.

Phil Browne, operations manager of Whitsundays-based True Blue Sailing, said, “The Great Barrier Reef is more than a place we visit to show to people – it is our home.”

“I don’t want to watch my home deteriorate, not whilst we still have a chance to save it. The new climate target gives me hope for a healthy and thriving Reef for future generations.”

Lindsay Simpson, owner-operator of Whitsundays-based Providence Sailing, said, “If we are going to protect the beautiful Great Barrier Reef – the only living organism to be seen from outer space – we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

“That means stop opening new coal mines and enabling more of the old dirty fossil fuels enterprises to contaminate our world,” she said.

“The Queensland Government has been lagging behind other states such as NSW and Victoria in their commitment to cutting these emissions and now finally it is making a bigger step in the right direction. That is welcomed by us tourism operators and those who care about the environment.”