Kelly said community pressure had finally put climate change on the political agenda, as evidenced by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie’s announcement recently that he would increase coal royalties if industry did not commit funds to clean coal research and development.

While industry swiftly responded with a $1 billion commitment towards clean coal technologies over the next decade – a figure Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said was unmatched by any industry in the world – Kelly emphasised how industry needed to play a dominant part in deciding its own fate.

“It is scary times for the mining industry,” she said, adding it was looking towards problems it had never faced before.

“Politicians will now take action unless we are players in that conversation.

“Climate change is real to people. Rather than let other people get solutions for you, you come up with solutions and work together.”

She also emphasised the importance of engaging in community communication.

“We need the cooperation of the community and local council. The mining industry needs to be in constant conversation with the community,” she said.

Putting the importance of climate change action in the bigger picture, Kelly said: “It is so important that we get this right for our country. If we get it right here we can show the rest of the world how to do it.”

She said she had noted just in the last year how “climate change was everywhere”, whereas just 15 years ago when she raised the issue at a gathering of world leaders – that climate change was real and that action needed to be taken – she was “vilified and abused” back home.

Kelly held a number of ministerial portfolios from 1987 to 1994, before resigning from politics to serve in several executive and non-executive directorships largely associated with the management of the environment. She is currently chair of the Minerals Council of Australia’s External Advisory Group on Sustainability.