On February 4 Australian Conservation Foundation joined with unions and community groups at a range of pro-renewables events in regional centres. Coal workers from up and down the country turned out to speak in support of the renewable energy transition.
Here in Gladstone coal train drivers, teachers, engineers, disability support workers and other community advocates turned out to show our support for this worker-led movement.
The responsible deployment of large-scale renewable energy projects is vital for places like the Illawarra, the Hunter, Gladstone, Gippsland and Portland, so energy intensive businesses can stay in these regions, local workers have access to good ongoing jobs.
While some people try to seed Trump-style disinformation about renewables into our community, Queenslanders overwhelmingly want to see an end to the climate wars and want ambitious action on climate change.
Opponents of renewables spread disinformation about the impact of windfarms on human health and wildlife, without scientific evidence to support their claims and despite significant evidence countering them.
In reality when we look at the available scientific evidence, renewable energy, when it’s well sited and managed, is a benefit to nature because it helps combat global warming which is the biggest risk to people and nature.
Additionally, polling by Farmers for Climate Action has found that increased fires and flooding fuelled by climate change is the biggest concern of Australian farmers, while farmers identify renewable energy as the second biggest economic opportunity for people in rural areas, behind tourism.
For the sake of workers, we need to bust disinformation about renewable energy that threatens our future.
