AUSTRALIAN POLITICIANS WITH HEADS IN THE SAND

The warnings about the impacts of human-induced climate change have been loud and clear for over fifty years, with the First World Climate Conference, the first major international scientific gathering to discuss the problem, being held in Geneva in February 1979. 

The Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit followed in 1992, which led to the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the adoption of a global plan for sustainable development. 155 countries, including Australia, signed up, nominating 2000 as the year signatories would reduce emissions to 1990 levels.

2000 came and went, and with global emissions still on the rise in 2006, British economist, Nicholas Stern, presented his climate change review famously pointing out that, “the benefits of strong and early action far outweigh the economic costs of not acting.”

Another 20 years have now elapsed, with procrastination and politics combining to ensure that greenhouse gasses continue to rise worldwide. So, it was no great surprise last week to hear Günther Thallinger, a board member of the insurance giant, Allianz, assert that “the climate crisis is on track to destroy capitalism.”

He also pointed out that the world is fast approaching temperature levels where insurers will no longer be able to offer cover for many climate risks, something that would come as no surprise to householders in flood zones and high bushfire risk areas, many of whom can no longer find insurers willing to take on the risk, or if they do, the cost is prohibitive.

Extreme weather events, bushfires, floods and heat waves, have been seemingly endless in recent years, costing the government, or more specifically taxpayers, many billions of dollars, and priceless damage to the environment.

However, despite all of this, and some determined young folk protesting loudly over the lack of action on climate change, we were forced to watch last week’s leaders debate ramble on about cost of living and housing, with climate change barely mentioned.

Politicians need to get their heads out of the sand and focus on the real issues.

 

-        John Edwards

 

Originally published under the title "Heads in the Sand" in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent ,16 April, 2025.

WHAT IS THE DOMINANT ISSUE IN THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

 The Climate Council, an independent, community-funded organisation campaigning for effective action on climate change in Australia, released a report recently on how the various political parties and some independents are shaping up on climate action.  The report “The Climate Crossroads: Progress, Politics and a Pivotal Election” is available on their website -  www.climatecouncil.org.au

Energy expert and Climate Councillor Greg Bourne said, “The shift to renewable power is well underway and is accelerating.  Solar and wind power backed by storage like big batteries is the lowest-cost, fastest and cleanest way to power our homes and businesses.

“This election political players need to commit to accelerating the clean energy transformation that is already delivering for millions of Australians.  This is the only way to reduce bills and pollution.”

The report also highlighted the important role of the crossbench in the last parliament where pro-climate Independents and the Greens helped strengthen climate laws, protect clean energy investment and block public funding for fossil fuels.

Reports such as this highlight issues that many politicians would prefer did not receive any comprehensive scrutiny.

While many people understandably have major concerns about the cost of living, this federal election is about a range of issues about our future – over the course of the next three years of the new parliament and beyond. 

Cost of living is what both the major parties – Coalition  (Liberal and National) and Labor - are claiming as the dominant issue in the election.  This is what it suits them to discuss.  It’s almost as if they are saying, “Now is the time to address cost of living.  When we have done that, we can look at other less urgent matters.”

Politicians should not be the arbiters on what is an issue – major or otherwise – in this or any other election.

There are many other important issues which should be considered by electors and raised by them with election candidates. These include improving action on climate change and protection of the natural world – our biodiversity.  These should receive urgent attention in our next parliament.

-        Leonie Blain

 Originally published under the title "What is the Dominant Election Issue?" in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent ,9 April, 2025.

 

 

 

AUSTRALIA'S "CLIMATE WARS" CONTINUE

The “climate wars” are far from over in Australia.  The Labor Party’s commitment to a zero net emissions target for 2050 has predicably drawn fire from the Federal Government which claims that the cost of this is too great. 

Again, predictably, the Federal Government forgets that the 2050 target is regarded as necessary by the IPCC scientists to keep temperature increases below three degrees Celsius. Also it does not appear to understand – again predictably – that there is a cost, which is likely to be very great, of doing nothing. 

 Furthermore it does not appear to recognise that all Australian State Governments have already committed to the 2050 target and will be doing the heavy lifting while it continues on its mindless do-nothing path.

Leading businesses are already committing to a 2050 zero net emissions target.  A recent example is global resources giant Rio Tinto. It plans to spend US$1 billion over the next 5 years to reduce its carbon emissions and is committed to a 15% reduction of current emissions by 2030.

Rio’s CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques gave the example of what was planned for one of its Pilbara operations. An investment of around US$100 million would provide a 34 MW solar photovoltaic plant and a battery system of 12 MW per hour storage system.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, speaking at an Informa conference of energy executives,  strongly criticised the Canberra political debate about net zero emissions saying it was false and misleading because the target was not something that was optional.

He said, “The fires of this last summer will seem like a very, very mild experience compared to what a three degrees Celsius (warmer) world will look like.”

He believes we have the engineering and economics to move to a zero emissions energy sector which will deliver cheaper and cleaner and reliable energy.

Moving to zero net emissions obviously relies on other sectors of the economy such as transport and agriculture as well as energy. 

The pressure on the Federal Government to take effective action in the national interest will continue to increase in coming months.

            - Leonie Blain

This article was originally published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on March 2,  2020.    

ZALI STEGGALL'S CLIMATE BILL

Zali Steggall, the independent federal Member for Warringah, plans to bring a private member’s bill on climate action before the House of Representatives on March 23. Steggall hopes that the major parties can be persuaded to allow their members a conscience vote on her Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020.

 

Very few private members’ bills are passed by parliament.  However, the non-partisanship of this bill and the overwhelming nature of recent disasters give some hope that politicians across the spectrum might come together and act in the long-term national interest for a change and end the ridiculous and futile warfare on climate policy that we as a nation have been stuck with for so long.

Steggall is working to obtain community support through her #ClimateActNow appeal in the hope that constituents will encourage their local members to support the bill.

The bill outlines ways to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions to zero by 2050. It deals with climate risks as well as with adaptation and mitigation measures to secure a more resilient Australia.  It also proposes establishing an independent climate change commission to advise parliament.

According to Kate Crowley, associate professor at the University of Tasmania, “Steggall’s bill changes the policy conversation entirely.  It calls for a detailed risk assessment of the challenges of warming across all sectors, and national plans for adapting to those challenges, while reducing emissions in a transparent and accountable way.”

Professor Ross Garnaut , author of the significant 2008 climate change review, supports the target set in Steggall’s bill. “Being introduced by a member of parliament from outside the partisan divide,” he said, “it can pass without any of the parties of government backing down from explicit electoral commitments.”

CEO of the Business Council of Australia, Jennifer Westacott, also commented favourably on the bill which, as Crowley pointed out is a signal to the Prime Minister that business wants “a more ambitious and targeted climate policy”.

For those of us who want to see effective climate action the message is clear.  Let our local MPs know our views.
            - Leonie Blain

This article was originally published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on February 17,  2020.  

THE FIRE EMERGENCY IN NSW

Lives lost, hundreds of homes destroyed, hundreds of thousands of hectares of native bushland reduced to ashes, and millions of native animals burned alive. That is the story as bush fires continue raging out of control along Australia's eastern seaboard.

These unstoppable fires, beginning two months ago in winter, are escalating towards an uncertain crescendo of catastrophic proportions. The tireless, heroic efforts of fire-fighters, mostly volunteers, have been magnificent, but they have been totally overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, with no end in sight.

As the planet warms, the situation will only worsen. Anyone claiming these fires are not related to climate change is delusional. Incredibly, many of our politicians are exactly that, content to ram their heads deeper into the sand with every successive climate-related disaster.

Over a decade ago, British economist, Sir Nicholas Stern, undertook an economic review of action on climate change, reporting that the high cost of acting would be dwarfed by the cost of inaction.

Professor Ross Garnaut similarly warned the Rudd Labor Government, subsequently reporting that Australia’s climate change position“is weak only because of an extraordinary failure of leadership”, pointing out that neither major political party has committed itself to policies that can get anywhere near their already weak emissions reduction targets.

Last week, retired fire chief Greg Mullins, warned the Federal Government that fire-fighters are entering uncharted territory and that the government needs to urgently address the situation. His plea for the Prime Minister to meet with 23 former senior emergency figures to discuss their concerns about climate change and “the missing capacity to fight fires in a new era” was fobbed off onto a junior minister.

"This is really dangerous," Mr Mullins said: "People are at risk, we need a game changer in how we deal with these catastrophes because they're going to get worse and worse.”

The escalating cost of the current catastrophe will certainly bear out Nicholas Stern's claim about the cost of government inaction! Unfortunately, that cost will be borne by all of us, some paying for it with their lives.

            - John Edwards

Burnt bushland near Coutts Crossing, south of Grafton.  Photo: John Edwards

This article was originally published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on November 18,  2019