General News
26 September, 2025
Climate risks to region
PROTESTERS gathered outside the Leichhardt electorate office on Monday, staging a “sleep-in” to call out the federal government’s climate policies.
Organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) and local community groups, participants wore pyjamas. They set up a bed to symbolise that the Albanese government is “asleep on climate” and “in bed with coal and gas corporations.”
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) director Bronwyn Opie told Cairns Local News the protest highlighted the urgent threats facing the region.
“The national climate risk assessment clearly spells out what’s at stake for Far North Queensland,” she said.
“We’re going to see an increase in deaths from heat waves, coastal communities facing unlivable conditions, uninsurable homes and displacement from rising seas and floods. The Torres Strait Islands are already facing a crisis from sea level rise.”
Ms Opie said the federal government’s recent 2035 emissions reduction target of 62–70% fell far short of what was needed.
“There’s nothing ambitious about a target that will be met by state and territory efforts alone, while the federal government continues to approve new coal and gas projects,” she said.
Protesters argued that the government’s approach prioritises fossil fuel profits over community safety.
“We expected at least an 80% reduction, but this target tells us that communities like ours are being left behind,” Ms Opie said.
“Our communities need support and the biggest threat to our nation is climate change.”
CAFNEC has been documenting local impacts through community engagement, including surveys of residents affected by floods in the Barron floodplain. “People spoke to us about the anxiety they feel heading into each wet season, fearing destructive floods could happen again,” Ms Opie said.
The AYCC said similar protests are taking place across Australia, with young people and frontline communities demanding more decisive climate action from the federal government.
