2021-04-20
The record has been corrected today in the ACT Legislative Assembly, in response to repeated questions from the Canberra Liberals about the sudden disappearance of 60 per cent of the ACT’s vegetation.
“Such a dramatic claim should have raised an eyebrow, but instead it raised all the feigned indignance of a party that’s suddenly decided to care about Canberra’s environment,” said Andrew Braddock, MLA for Yerrabi and Greens spokesperson on Better Suburbs.
“My office investigated the claim, delving deeper into the research, which has now been updated to reflect we were one of only two areas to actually see an increase in vegetation over the period that was evaluated.
“The biggest threat to Canberra’s environment is Liberals at the national level and their commitment to inaction on climate change.
“It was climate change that intensified the horrific Black Summer bushfires, including in our own Orroral Valley, which caused a devastating loss of vegetation and biodiversity.
“The ACT Greens are proud and grateful that so many Canberrans have demanded a better normal, compelling all three parties to pay attention to our natural environment, but the Canberra Liberals need to do more than grab for a headline.
“As the world gears up for the US-organised climate action summit later this week, we need the same shift at the national level.
“Canberrans have the chance to elect Greens into the balance of power at the next federal election, so we can replicate what we have in the ACT – a government actually acting on climate change.
“As we continue to lead the nation on climate action, we’re committed to a 30% tree canopy in urban areas, to cool our suburbs and create an urban biodiversity sanctuary across the bush capital.
“The ACT Government is planting 54,000 trees by mid-2024 to contribute to the 30% canopy, because a greener Canberra is a more liveable Canberra,” Mr Braddock said.
The updated Australian Conservation Foundation media release is available here: www.acf.org.au/natural_solutions_needed_for_our_overheating_cities