Climate sceptics in our government

Thank you, Mike Seccombe. The article on the shameful failure of the Coalition to make any progress in bringing about a genuine move towards a reduction in our emissions was as good a piece of journalism on this overwhelming issue as I have read in the past 20-odd years (“Climate stalling both here and in America”, September 16-22). The article left me with the disturbing feeling that many in this government are simply not playing with a full deck on the questions of climate change and renewable energy. But why? A spokesman from the Institute of Public Affairs is quoted as saying that “a majority of Liberal Party members are ‘solid sceptics’ about the science of climate change”. We are hopefully talking here about seemingly competent people who yet blindly reject the science. I don’t believe it. They can’t be that stupid. Every national science academy and university in the world has totally endorsed the known science of anthropogenic climate change and the crisis that confronts us. So for members of the Coalition to remain climate sceptics is to suggest we need a basic IQ test of the entire government. Or perhaps there is some other reason for this irrationally heroic support of the polluting coal industry? And then there is Turnbull, who pontificates: “I will not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am.” Probably a good line for his headstone.

– David Payne, Bermagui, NSW