Climate Change Law Report: Impact on Marine Life in Queensland

This report delves into the complexities of Climate Change Law in Australia, specifically focusing on its impact on marine life in Queensland. The report begins with an overview of the issue, highlighting the effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures and extreme weather events, and their consequences for the environment and biodiversity. It then examines the role of coal mining and its negative impacts on marine ecosystems, including habitat destruction and pollution. The report analyzes the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) of 1999, and other relevant legislation, assessing their effectiveness in protecting endangered species and managing environmental risks. It also discusses the Queensland government's efforts to protect marine life through marine parks and conservation initiatives. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for compliance with environmental regulations and the importance of balancing economic development with the protection of the environment, particularly in the context of mining projects. It stresses the potential severe impacts on human health and marine species if environmental concerns are not adequately addressed.

Running head: CLIMATE CHANGE LAW
Climate Change Law
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors Note

1CLIMATE CHANGE LAW
Letter of Proposal
To,
Australian Peoples’ Tribunal for Community and Nature’s Rights
From: North Queensland Land Council
Date:
Re: Submission for Climate Change Issues
Facts
Over the past few decades, climate change has converted into a global issue. However,
these changes in climates affect life on earth including the environment and biodiversity in
different ways. A variety of plant and animal species have become extinct due to these changes.
Continued climate change could have a dramatic impact on Australia's ecosystems. The new era
of the 21st century has made the Australian people worried over the issue of climate change. In
2013, a report was published by the CSIRO, which stated that Australia is getting hotter and that
due to climate change it will experience further excess heat and extended fire seasons1. In 2014, a
report was published by the Bureau of Meteorology regarding the environment of the state of
Australia, highlighting many key points, including the substantial increase in the temperatures of
Australia (especially night-time temperatures) and the accumulative occurrence of bush fires,
droughts and floods, all linked to climate change. Current climate happenings such as excessive
high temperatures along with prevalent drought have reflected on the effects of climate change in
Australia through government and public interest2. The elected Australian government in 2013
1Wilcox, Chris, et al. "Understanding the sources and effects of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear on
marine turtles in northern Australia." (2015) Conservation biology 29.1: 198-206.
2 Fitzsimons, James A., et al. "Developing a marine conservation program in temperate Australia: determining
priorities for action." (2015) Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs 7.1: 85-93.

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was criticized due to neglecting the issue of climate change. After facing a heavy criticism in this
regard, the government revised the carbon tax in 2014. The renewable energy target (RET),
started in 2001 was reformed as well. Under the administration of Malcolm Turnbull, Australia,
however, joined the United Nations Climate Change Conference of 2015 and ratified the Paris
Agreement, along with an assessment of discharge reduction targets after the end of every 5
years from 20203. The federal government of Australia including all state governments has
unambiguously acknowledged that greenhouse gas discharges are causing climate change in line
with the scientific opinion on climate change. Population sectors have been campaigning against
new coal mines and coal-fired power stations in order to reduce the negative effects of global
warming.
Issues
Mining has great negative impact on the environment mainly on the marine environment.
Mining may abolish deep sea environments; destroy exceptional and unique species and present
sediment smokes, sound, poisonous chemicals, vibration and other types of pollution into
unspoiled environments. For instance, the dispersal of fine and possibly poisonous elements in
plumes can overwhelm and kill sea species. As the environment of deep seabed is not explored
completely, the undiscovered species may be lost by the mining. Due to the mining, various
splendid sea creatures are in great suffering specially turtles. According to the ‘Turtle
Conservation’, the environment, particularly turtles and reptiles, is affected by rising sea
temperature and rising sea level.
The coalmines situated in the Galilee Basin have negative effects on the water resources.
Usually coal comprises of sulfur and when it is burned the sulfur merged with oxygen converts
3 Gall, Sarah C., and Richard C. Thompson. "The impact of debris on marine life." (2015) Marine pollution
bulletin 92.1-2: 170-179.

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into sulfur oxides. Coal waste is created from sulpher which can drain into groundwater and
streams, polluting the supply of drinking water. The coalmines discharges wastewater which
mixes with the water streams and the quality of water became affected. Various heavy metals
also released from coalmines which is consumed by the living creatures of the sea. Low quality
metals are effortlessly absorbed in residues and this uninterrupted procedure produces to a high
amount of noxious waste.
Arguments
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act) is the
legislation of environment of the Australian Government. This includes environmental review
and permits, conserves substantial biodiversity and incorporates significant natural and
traditional sites management. The government of Australia practices the EPBC Act in order to
safeguard and manage the endangered, migratory and sea species. The EPBC Act has a list
related to the endangered species. The conservation and management of endangered sea species
involves:
 Defining the threats faced by various sea species;
 Preventing, modifying and handling those threats;
 Supporting the rescue of the species until they can be aloof from the EPBC Act list of
endangered species4.
Australia has a vast reserve of coal and coal seam gas. This act also provides protection from that
reserve. The report published by the Australian government stated that the coal mining and coal
seam gas are responsible for the damage or impairment of the water resources5. Therefore the
4 Klein, Carissa J., et al. "Prioritization of marine turtle management projects: A protocol that accounts for threats to
different life history stages." (2017) Conservation Letters 10.5: 547-554.
5 Brown, Greg, et al. "Stakeholder analysis for marine conservation planning using public participation GIS." (2016)
Applied Geography 67: 77-93.

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production of coal and coal seam gas are considered to be a matter of national environmental
importance. The Queensland government takes necessary steps in order to protect the marine
life. Marine parks are created by the Queensland government to protect coastal properties, water
and preserve the natural oceanic environment along with the considerable use of it. The
preservation of these habitats includes wetlands with mangroves, beds of sea grass, mudflats,
rocky outcrops, sandbanks, beaches and fringing reefs6. More than 50 years ago, a group of
scientists and ocean conservationists founded the Australian Marine Conservation Society, in
order to preserve the marine life. It has been observed that Queensland’s government activates
through the department where they only have to approve coal and coal seam gas or mining
proposals after an environmental impact statement has been received. These are deemed to be
reviewed under the Queensland Government's bilateral agreement7.
A detailed scrutiny helps to understand that this would have an adverse effect on the
resources of marine life if the mining project were expected to take place or take place. The
changes in the coal mines could have numerous effects on the environment of sea.
Thus, it can be indicated that the consent of the foremost mining project must comply
with the guidelines delivered by the government. Failure to do so would have significant effects
on the environment along with an impact on change of climate. In the case of Adani Carmichael
Mine it has been observed that mining projects as well as other related projects to it are
specifically responsible for severe effect on environment especially on the marine life. Therefore,
comply with the stated guidelines are regarded to be necessary8.
6 Kittinger, John N., et al., eds. Marine historical ecology in conservation: Applying the past to manage for the
future. (Univ of California Press, 2015)
7 Grech, Alana, et al. "Australian marine protected areas." (2015)
8 Kittinger, John N., et al., eds. Marine historical ecology in conservation: Applying the past to manage for the
future. (Univ of California Press, 2015)

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Hence, to conclude the report, it can be said that the impact of climate change hampered
the marine life of Queensland and numerous record violating heat waves experienced by the
population and many other effects have been associated with it. Therefore, obedience with
supervisory frameworks and regulations need to be done in accord with the environmental effect
assessment in order to support the most important mining project. If this is not organized or
regulated appropriately, it would have severe impact on human health and other endangered sea
species health. Economic development is essential but the protection of the environment must be
of greatest significance.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books and Journals
Fitzsimons, James A., et al. "Developing a marine conservation program in temperate Australia:
determining priorities for action." (2015) Australian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs 7.1:
85-93.
Gall, Sarah C., and Richard C. Thompson. "The impact of debris on marine life." (2015) Marine
pollution bulletin 92.1-2: 170-179.
Wilcox, Chris, et al. "Understanding the sources and effects of abandoned, lost, and discarded
fishing gear on marine turtles in northern Australia." (2015) Conservation biology 29.1: 198-206.
Brown, Greg, et al. "Stakeholder analysis for marine conservation planning using public
participation GIS." (2016) Applied Geography 67: 77-93.
Grech, Alana, et al. "Australian marine protected areas." (2015).
Kittinger, John N., et al., eds. Marine historical ecology in conservation: Applying the past to
manage for the future. (Univ of California Press, 2015)
Klein, Carissa J., et al. "Prioritization of marine turtle management projects: A protocol that
accounts for threats to different life history stages." (2017) Conservation Letters 10.5: 547-554.
Figure 1
Legislation
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 (EPBC Act)