Qld: Lights out in Brisbane for Earth Hour

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2008
Qld: Lights out in Brisbane for Earth Hour

By Roberta Mancuso

BRISBANE, Feb 14 AAP - Brisbane will switch off for an hour on March 29 to cut the
city's greenhouse gas emissions.

Premier Anna Bligh today said her government would support Earth Hour 2008 - a global
initiative of WWF Australia - and turn off all lights in its buildings for an hour from
8pm on Saturday, March 29.

She urged all businesses and residents to follow suit.

"This is a global opportunity to raise awareness about how our behaviour affects the
environment we live in," Ms Bligh said.

Ms Bligh said it would be Brisbane's first participation in Earth Hour, and she also
urged Queenslanders outside the capital to get involved.

WWF spokesman Nick Heath said last year more than two million Sydney residents took
part in Earth Hour, resulting in a 10.2 per cent drop in energy use across the city.

Meanwhile, in another energy initiative, the Queensland government will boost its fleet
of hybrid petrol-electric cars.

Ms Bligh said the government would buy 50 Honda Civic hybrids this year, adding to
the 10 recently purchased.

They will join Q-Fleet's fleet of 177 hybrids.

"We want to reduce emissions for the entire fleet by 15 per cent by the end of 2010
and by 50 per cent by the end of 2017," Ms Bligh said.

"In addition, 50 per cent of the fleet's emissions will be offset by the end of 2010
and 100 per cent by the end of 2020."

Ms Bligh said she was leading by example and driving a new ministerial car - a Chrysler
300C, with a three-litre turbo diesel engine and a "greenhouse rating" of six.

Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said it was regrettable the new additions to
the government fleet were imports and there was a "strong message" for the Australian
car manufacturing industry.

"I think it's a sad fact of life they simply haven't kept pace with the demands of
climate change," Mr Schwarten said.

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KEYWORD: CLIMATE QLD

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