An open letter to my Federal Representative:
Dear Bert van Manen,
Nearly four weeks ago the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the first instalment of its landmark Sixth Assessment Report titled “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis”.
This is the most comprehensive and authoritative overview of the physical science of climate change to date.
The report is frankly shocking to me and I must admit I felt physically sick on reading the report myself. I have to ask now, have you read it yourself yet?
This report outlines in the minutest detail what will be in all our futures as a result of catastrophic climate change.
Are you concerned at all for the health and welfare of your constituents due to climate change?
Below are observations made by Dr Simon Bradshaw from the Climate Council.
The threat now facing all of humanity due to inaction on climate change is more serious than ever, and every day of further delay puts us more at risk.
But while the findings of this report will be confronting for many, we must all remember that strong action today will make a profound difference to communities and ecosystems worldwide, both in our lifetimes and well into the future.
- The scale and pace at which humans are altering the climate system has almost no precedent. Human influence has warmed the climate at a rate that is unprecedented in at least the last two thousand years.
- Climate change and its impacts are accelerating, and more impacts are on the way. Lack of action, despite decades of warnings, means we are now seeing these alarming changes unfold at a faster and faster rate. In other words, our climate is not merely changing, the rate of change is now accelerating.
- Every fraction of a degree matters. Every additional increment of warming means more extreme weather, including increases in the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, damaging rainfall, and droughts.
- Responding to climate change means doing everything possible to reduce emissions, while also adapting to the impacts that can no longer be avoided. Past inaction means that more impacts from climate change are on the way but the right choices made today will be measured in lives, livelihoods, species and ecosystems saved.
The findings of this latest report are unmistakable: only stronger action this decade can prevent climate catastrophe.
Climate change is already impacting Australians today.
From longer fire seasons to more destructive storms, we are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of worsening extreme weather, caused by climate change.
But as the world ramps up its efforts, Australia is being left behind, our PM having refused to set a date to achieve net zero emissions, strengthen our weak 2030 emissions reduction target, or take advantage of the jobs and benefits that being a world leader in renewable energy would bring.
And so, I myself stand with the Climate Council which has joined with 55 organisations across the Australian climate movement, representing millions of Australians, in calling on you and the Federal Government to cut emissions by 75% by 2030, and reach net zero by 2035.
As my federal representative, I would now like to know exactly where you stand on this most important of issues that is set to affect the lives of every living thing on our entire planet for decades if not centuries to come.
Steve Wells,
Beenleigh.
