Taking Aust’s climate responsibility seriously
SCOTT Morrison recently lashed out at his climate critics by claiming, “they have deliberately ignored my achievements”. Since becoming our new PM, he appointed John Kunkel, a former deputy CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia, who thoughtfully supplied the lump of lacquered coal that Morrison brandished in the House of Representatives last year.
We also have leading anti-wind campaigner, Angus Taylor as our new energy minister and former coal company lawyer Melissa Price as the environment minister (who signed off on Adani’s groundwater-related management plan on April 8 this year).
Morrison proclaimed that Australia was responsible for a mere 1.3% of global emissions. Australia’s coal exports contribute 3% to global emissions and gas exports contribute 1%. If you combine those with our domestic emissions, Australia is responsible for 5% of global emissions. Our coal and LNG exports add 1.2 billion tonnes of heat trapping gases to Earth’s atmosphere every year. This is huge considering that Australia represents just 0.3% of the world’s population.
Human actions have started a climate response that we cannot stop, even if we ceased all emissions right now. Emission reduction will reduce some of the more devastating impacts but we are leaving it very late to act. How much more empirical evidence and synthesis do we need to make our societies take this issue seriously?
GEOFF CASTLE, research scientist Toowoomba) TURKISH ATTACK
AS SOON as President Trump ordered American forces to leave the Kurd’s area in North Syria, Turkey attacked. The Kurds were America’s friends as long as they were needed to fight ISIS, but as soon as their usefulness ended they were abandoned. America has a long history of leaving their allies in the lurch.
Vietnam is the classic example; besides not pursuing that war in a manner to win it in short order the Americans abandoned South Vietnam to its fate, and the North took over. The Korean War was a stalemate because General MacArthur was forbidden to use the necessary force to win. North Korea has been a thorn in the side of the West ever since.
Australia is relying on the Americans to help us in our hour of need as the power of China rises ever upward. But can we be sure that the Americans will be faithful allies? Their track record is none too good. Trust the Yanks ---- sure can’t.
JAY NAUSS, Glen Aplin KING CANUTE
“WHAT do we want? End climate change! When do we want it? Now!” Somewhere in the activist mobs tying up traffic in our cities daily, we should look for the ghost of old King Canute. These protests are right up his alley, from the time he ruled England 1016 to 1035.
Legend has it Cnut, as he was also known, sat on his chair at the edge of the incoming tide and commanded the waters to stop. They didn’t of course and the old king went into his history for his tomfoolery.
Climate nuts, the cnuts of today will also go into history for promoting their silliness in our cities. Climate change has always been with us so history tells us. In the Middle Ages climate was warm enough for wheat to be grown in Iceland. Some scientists believe the earth is warming up in preparation for another ice age to come.
If these protesters here really believe their messages, let them go to major polluting countries such as China and protest. But their antics prove one thing to Queenslanders. Under the direction of the Green- influenced Labor government, police are ham-stung in trying to let lawabiding citizens exercise their right to go peacefully about the streets. Accounting time for our Labor masters will come at the next State election. PETER KNOBEL, Toowoomba