FOSSIL FUELS ON WAY OUT

ACROSS the world, countries are slowly but surely moving away from fossil fuels in an attempt to slow down global warming, except here in Australia.

We have a fractured federal government that has no real climate policy and doggedly refuses to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, a target that is now considered insufficient to keep us to below 2C warming.

Many of our political leaders claim that the cost of combating climate change will be too high and liken it to dining at a restaurant? “Show us what’s on the menu and show us what it costs and we’ll decide whether we’re going to eat it.”

Really? That’s your plan?

It is time for our political leaders to face reality. The real cost of climate change will come from inaction, not action. And inaction is exactly what we are doing now.

Consider the costs of a few recent climate change driven natural disasters.

• 2019-20 bushfires: nearly $100bn (Australia’s costliest natural disaster).

• 2019 Townsville floods: over $5bn.

• 2017 Cyclone Debbie: nearly $3.5bn.

And those are just the big-ticket items. On a more local level, there are a number of ongoing and somewhat insidious costs that can’t be ignored.

• Health impacts from heatrelated illnesses and air pollution.

• Skyrocketing insurance premiums.

• Loss of property value due to increase in natural disasters and sea level rise.

Not a very pretty picture but a

very costly picture. On the other hand, there is money to be made from climate change as we transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to a renewable energybased economy. An analysis by Deloitte Access Economics found policies consistent with a target of net zero emissions by 2050 could expand the economy by 2.6 per cent, or $680bn and create 250,000 jobs. There is a catch.

We need to move now.

TONY FONTES, Jubilee Pocket

ZERO EMISSIONS FALLACY

I NOTE in the Townsville Bulletin of September 27 an article on page 12 which says “Farmers must ‘share burden’ of emissions bid.”

The Gratton Institute are calling for the government (working population – the tax payers) to bankroll new research into cutting emissions caused by animals and that farmers should not be exempt from Australia’s bid for net-zero-emissions.

Here we go again, create a crisis and call for grants to investigate the crisis, not have the actual science proven, but use theoretical science to prove that emissions caused by animals farting are a danger to the planet.

The think-tank that is the Gratton Institute also wants the red tape on the development of meat alternatives to be slashed so the demand for manufactured proteins will keep growing, turning humans into vegetarians.

What good news for the super rich and multinational business as it has been recently reported that Bill Gates is one of the biggest owners of land in America and just recently he did an interview on his push to have more of the planet’s population eating manufactured or prefabricated food.

The same has been reported in Holland. The dairy farmers are squeezed out by multinational business and they have been buying up the land for crop growing to produce prefabricated food. Who is going to control the food supply when the ordinary Australian is squeezed out, the producers of manufactured food?

Zero emissions is the biggest joke that has ever been played on the human race because it would mean that the human race should not breathe or pass wind to stay alive as emission means a gas discharge release, so how is the release of one’s breath suppression going to reach zero emissions? SANDRA CHESNEY,

Jensen.

How dare Mr Walker say on radio & TV that their new laws are working. Total insult to the owners of the 12 vehicles that were stolen over the long weekend. Just goes to show he has no respect for the people of Townsville. Get your head out of the sand Les & get some b--ls. PT, KIRWAN

The great Benji Marshall has called time on his 19 yrs of top level Rugby League albeit a stint with NZ Blues in Union. From his first touch of the footy in 2003 to his last with Souths in the 2021 GF Benji will always be remembered as that enigmatic player of unlimited skills. Hope he stays with RL in some capacity as he offers many yrs of experience and knowledge. He finished on his terms. Thanks for the memories Benji. BLUEWATER BOB.

Our hospitals are now in crisis. Labor has been in power for 25 of the last 30 years as a state government, Covid-19 issues looming for 18 months or more, myriad of other problems. Is there anything this state government has not stuffed up? MAURICE ANNANDALE

Ten cars stolen in 24 hours. That small minority (no more than a dozen people) certainly get around. If Les Walker believes Statistician’s Office figures, number of youth offenders lowest in a decade, he must also believe in tooth fairy or he’s taken too many punches. Glad Statistician not in charge of my superannuation with figures like that. TJ 4814 Our hospitals are fine and can cope says the Chief Health Officer but the Premier says our hospitals are at

breaking point even though there is no Covid in North Queensland. So why am I suspicious when four North Queensland hospitals simultaneously declare Code Yellow. Just wondering if the spin doctors have had a hand in this? STEVIE BELGIAN GARDENS

To all the anti-vaxers on Stuart Drive Tuesday please keep your unprofessional signs to yourselves. People can make up their own minds re vaccine and your pitiful display wouldn’t affect intelligent people. You’re only trying to justify your decisions.

FULLY VAXED GRANNY - WULGURU

JB4818 I think you will find the ad was saying to have both jabs by 31/10/21 not after, and the $1m draw would be after then. VAL 4817

The problem Chief Superintendent is, these young terrorists are not accepting responsibility for the serious crimes being committed. They must be taught discipline first and a lot of that has been lacking over the years. It’s now got worse, with more serious offences being committed eg armed robbery when stealing cars. Too many excuses have been heard. We as a community come first. PAT, 4812

I agree with Palaszczuk that our hospitals need a funding injection (pardon the pun). But instead of attempting to extort funds from the Feds, how about she cancels the Olympic Games and uses those saved funds for the betterment of the health and wellbeing of all Queensland citizens rather than feeding her ego. DB NORTH SHORE.