Thank you to those responding to my open letter: Climate change report ‘shocking’.
With the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to be held from October to November 2021 and a federal election by no later than mid-2022 you are going to be hearing a great deal of ‘marketing and spin’ on Climate Change matters from our leaders, mainstream media and climate deniers.
What’s most important is to seek sources of independent news like the ABC and other ‘fact based’ news services.
Remember that the latest IPCC Report (to be released in further detail at COP26) was compiled by hundreds of respected scientists who dedicated years of research into producing a ground-breaking climate report.
Their research has had a rigorous peer review process and when fully released and discussed by world leaders at COP26, there will be no doubt that there is a need for deep, rapid cuts to emissions which must happen this decade to give us the best chance of stopping runaway climate change to protect the people and places we love.
People across the globe are already dying, in danger and are suffering – it’s damaging our health, our water and our ability to grow food.
Millions of species are going to become extinct if we don’t phase out coal, oil and gas rapidly.
Millions of people are already climate refugees while billions more may be displaced by 2100.
The risks for all of us will only become more extreme as the intensity and speed of predicted changes to our climate become more evident during this decade.
With these changes will come more floods, more droughts, more heatwaves and more bushfires. Cyclones and hurricanes will also become more intense. Crucial ‘tipping points’ may be reached with outcomes leading to a domino effect with severe consequences for humanity.
The first duty of any government is to keep people safe.
Fossil fuel corporations and billionaires continue to donate millions of dollars to both the ALP and LNP. These donations, compromise their ability to act on climate change and fulfill their duty to us. Every year, Australian governments and their departments, spend billions of dollars of your money so that more coal, oil and gas can be extracted and burned.
To ensure our security, safety and existence we urgently need to cut emissions by 75% before 2030 and we also need to reach net zero emissions by 2035 but emissions in Australia are rising.
The science is clear – emissions must rapidly decrease now.
In contrast to our government inaction on climate change, polling shows 79% of Australians care about climate change, while the percentage of Australians who are climate change deniers is now just 8%.
Climate deniers and political leaders who dispute climate change or just refuse to act are now in the minority both here and abroad. Unfortunately for all of us, these 8% are incredibly vocal and active on social media.
Those who care about climate change should try to step up and call out ‘deniers’ by talking face to face with our friends and relatives about the climate facts.
We should also try to resist rebuking ‘deniers’ claims online as this only reinforces their dangerous messages. Instead, try to post positive, factual messages on your own social media. If you like, use the hashtag #ThisCantWait.
“As of 31 July 2021, 2,897,835 small-scale solar power systems have been installed across Australia,” says Australian government’s energy.gov.au website.
There have also been 20,000 electric vehicles sold in Australia.
Australians have clearly shouldered their fair share of the load so why is our government not lifting their game on the climate emergency which poses an imminent threat to our existence?
Steve Wells,
Beenleigh.
