Several hundred people came together last night to recognise the symbolic gesture of us switching off lights for an hour to bring attention to the need to reduce energy use and address the critical issue of global warming and climate change.
The event at CoCA was sponsored by Cairns Regional Council, Ergon, the Cairns Post, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Ochre Restaurant and Catering (thanks Craig for the fab food) and Lincolne Scott who paid for the offsetting to make the event climate neutral.
I spoke about the Cairns region being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change which will affect the reef, the rainforest, our economy, industries, food production and the habitability of our wonderful tropical region.
It's good to know that we now have leadership at both a national and local level (no more saying that the jury is still out on the impacts of human activity on climate!) to take the issue seriously and plan a more sustainable way of inhabiting planet earth.
As Mayor, I want this region to take a proactive role in addressing climate change and sustainability issues to ensure the best possible future for our children, our communities, our economy and our environment.
Turning off the lights for an hour was one small step; our challenge is to make a difference in other broader ways and the new Cairns Regional Council can be a model for how other businesses can act.
No comments:
Post a Comment