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qpsu climate heroes
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QPSU and ACF unite for Queensland’s Climate Heroes

More than 500 Queenslanders will make significant reductions in greenhouse emissions from their homes, workplaces and communities as part of the Climate Heroes campaign, launched today in Brisbane by the Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU), in collaboration with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF).

The QPSU’s Alex Scott and ACF’s Don Henry said the Climate Heroes program exemplified the cooperation needed at all levels of society to address the global warming challenge.

The 500 Climate Heroes, supported by 29,000 QPSU members and their colleagues, will complete ‘hero missions’ every four weeks around themes like waste reduction, transport, energy efficiency and even climate-friendly food.

Missions include educational components for heroes to share with colleagues – on climate impacts, government policy and everyday sources of greenhouse pollution – as well as simple practical initiatives for homes and workplaces, such as:

• Workplace participation in events like Earth Hour and World Environment Day
• Support for sustainable transport options – walking, cycling or car-pooling
• Energy efficient practices for lighting and computer systems
• "Sustainable’ Christmas parties.

“In a survey of our members, 80 per cent identified climate change as a priority issue for them during last year’s federal election,” said the QPSU’s Alex Scott.

“Our members want to learn more about climate change and, most importantly, what they can do to help. We have developed the Climate Heroes program, with the support and expertise of the Australian Conservation Foundation, to help our members be part of the solution in their workplaces, homes and communities.”

“ACF is delighted to support the Climate Heroes campaign,” said ACF’s Don Henry. “Workplaces are such an important part of achieving a better, safer future for our planet.

“The collaboration between our two organisations is an example of what it will take to address climate change – cooperation between individuals, organisations and governments to tackle this global challenge.

“The 500 climate heroes will collectively work with thousands of people across their workplaces, each making small but important changes to their daily practices. When large numbers of people work together like this, even small changes can have a big effect.”

If the program is successful, the collaborative model may be expanded to include other unions in future years.