Climate change election no-show a shame for all of us: @GrattonWilson

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By Gratton Wilson

 

The important matter of climate change seems to have received little attention by politicians during the election debate. There have been some exchanges but nothing substantial has been added by the chief players.

There has been significant contributions from experts, all of whom confirm that the Coalition Direct Action Plan will not deliver the emission reduction target agreed as necessary by the two main contenders. The LNP has not provided sufficient funding to deliver its own flawed policy. If the LNP form Government it will be extremely disappointing to those concerned for the future of the Planet.

Overseas literature, media and scientific articles make it clear that countries other than Australia are increasingly concerned about the coming impact of global warming. This concern is by Governments and non government organisations alike. There are now 48 countries with either a price on carbon or plans to do so. There is an increase in action to install renewable energy devices, mainly wind or solar panels. This is accompanied by a brake on development of fossil fuel energy production.

The concern amongst the convinced in Australia has also intensified, with calls for a lifting of the emission reduction target and aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Should the LNP be elected none of this will happen and a reduction in renewable energy effort is the likely result.

There are two issues relating to climate change that have not been addressed at all during the campaign.

Budget provision has not been made for rectification of the results of expected serious climate events. What has been the cost to governments and individuals of fire, flood, tornadoes and drought over the last ten years? The human cost is immeasurable. Treasuries must have the answer and adequate provisions should be made. Part of calculating forward costs is risk assessment and whether or not protective measures should be put in place. These are issues being actively pursued in other countries but not in Australia.

The second issue is Australia’s position in the international debate about action on climate change .We have heard nothing on his matter. Yet it is central to dealing with the issue. Will Australia become isolated by our negativity or continue seeking solutions?

Our politicians have failed to ensure that the greatest disaster of our time is high on the national agenda.

Read More:
New climate change policy play: @georgefwoods reports


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Comments

  1. John Englart says

    It is certainly an issue in Wills according to the three Meet the Candidate forums. But on a national level and in the mainstream media it is virtually invisible as an issue. Climate change impacts are only going to get worse and will keep coming back to bite us election after election. Thanks for the article. If an Abbott Government forms we are about to take several steps back and into dangerous waters.

  2. Rodney Edwin Lever says

    The voters out there are too distracted by their workaday trials to take much notice of climate change yet. Unfortunately it will, as always, require a major shock. How about the discovery of a huge canyon, twice the depth and four times the width and six times the length of the US grand canyon and stretching halfway through Greenland? Still packed with ice, if it melts it will raise the oceans by seven metres. When Sydney and Brisbane and Melbourne are under water, the punters and the pollies will finally wake up, (hopefully).


  3. The million young voters are the ones looking at climate change and the NBN.

    The million + young voters as well as those 15 years older are looking at the NBN, jobs and the NBN.

    Slightly older voters are looking at all of the above as well as the economy, their Rates, jobs, prices, health and the NBN.

    Baby boomers for the most part just want to go back to Howard …. and “Slick” Abbott wants to lead them there.

    The Liberal designed by geniuses.
    Currently run by idiots.


    • J Fraser, wash your mouth out. Grrr :{P
      I am a Baby Boomer and trust me, I have not the slightest desire to return to the likes of Howard nor the 1950’s era they cream themselves over. Now I am over 50 and it looks soon my job will be terminated for a political ideal that failed last time around and will again, and Employment Agencies say all the time “Sydney or Melbourne?”. All I can say is that each time in my life I have everything falling into right places, along comes a bunch of LNP w@nkers and it takes me 10 years to recover the costs they inflict on me due to their imbecilic myopic infatuation with anything revolving around the slightest whiff of money. I know a number of other Boomers who are dreading this bunch of w@nkers doing it to them too. My biggest fear is they will sell the Federal Reserve, on some trumped up disaster of their own making as an excuse and our sovereignty is done for and we become another bunch of grunts beholden the the Banksters.
      The young ones have their heads on and they can see right through both sides of this phoney contest between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. They have grown up in a constant sea of propaganda. It bugs us oldies, to them, it is water off a ducks back.
      I still can’t find anyone owning up to voting for LNP in QLD’s last election. That is really scary.
      When all the oceans and rivers are dead, the air foul to breath, crops fail and no water to drink, lets see how we can survive on money alone as the LNP think we can. But intelligent people think, and know we cannot.


  4. Some excellent points, Grattan. I guess that climate change is a non issue in the marginals. Perhaps that’s
    why Labour is not pushing the Coalition on their hopelessly inadequate ‘direct action’ policy. Rudd’s disowning of the carbon tax was a shot in the foot for Labour and certainly hasn’t neutralized the issue as seen by Abbotts’ robotic ‘axe the tax’ mantra continuing.
    Time is fast running out for effective action of climate change and if the punters think that the economy or asylum seekers are the biggest issues facing us now, then they will be a hell of a lot worse when impacted by sea level rise, extreme heat, flooding, wildfires and cyclones.