Johanna Kloot will be looking to make serious inroads for the Greens in Far North Queensland as she competes for the seat of Leichhardt this September.

Ms Kloot, a trained pilot, has lived in Cairns since 1985 and now studies sustainability at James Cook University.

"I've been following the effects of climate change for quite some time and the effect it's going to have on Australia is quite severe. It's already started to occur," she said.

"I decided to run as a candidate because during my studies I'm learning every single day the effects of climate change and the effects on society.

"There's social effects, there's environmental effects, there's economic effects. There's going to be a flow on through the community that's going to impact every single person."

Ms Kloot said Far North Queenslanders need to focus on planning for this scenario.

"Things as basic as food security are going to become issues in the next five or ten years.

"We've got a business model that's being applied to us here that might work well in places like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane etcetera but it doesn't work up here. The idea of us having to send it (food) back down to be bought back up here to be sold at the supermarkets is just not sustainable.

"Fifty per cent of the farmers up here are not making a profit, where as if we support local farmers, support local businesses, we can keep a lot more of that financial drain from going down south. We can invest that money into creating industry."

She said industry diversification was a key factor in a sustainable future, at the same time ensuring the tourism industry is supported and protected.

"That (tourism) is our mainstay but we need to protect that industry. Things like protecting the airport from storm surge - if we lose that airport we're in dire straits.

"With $50 million being put forward to modify the airport, well I'd like to see some of that money go into making sure that, should we have a storm surge, we're protected. In terms of income for Far North Queensland, we really are reliant on that airport.

"These are just examples of many that I see ringing up as the campaign progresses, as to the real alternative the Greens are in creating a more sustainable environment in Far North Queensland which is going to be better for everybody throughout society."

Ms Kloot said the Greens' message is getting through to people in Far North Queensland despite its traditional alignment with the major political parties.

"I'm amazed. Everywhere I go, when I say 'Hello, I'm Johanna Kloot, I'm the Greens' candidate' I get a really positive, warm response.

"People are really starting to live the effects of climate change. We can't ignore it anymore. People are starting to think that we have to start looking after our environment because if we don't, we don't leave anything for our children, and their children.

"The short term grab for the long term loss isn't being accepted anymore. We need to make long term plans for long term gains.

"Regional Queensland and regional Australia are being left out of mainstream politics, and what the Greens offer are alternatives. The Greens encompass regional Australia in their policies, and that makes a real difference."