THOUGHT CHANGE ON CLIMATE

THE times, they are a changin’ – American singer Bob Dylan’s words, written in 1963, are as true today as they were back then.

Today, that change is being driven by global warming, caused by our insatiable appetite for fossil fuels.

The world is on track to exceed an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next decade, increasing the risk of severe heatwaves, drought, floods, bush fires, and coral bleaching.

We have long been aware of the risks of global warming, but little has been done to mitigate those risks.

Now the younger generation is looking at an uncertain future that they have little control over.

But times, they are a changin’ … right here in Australia.

The young people are taking control.

In May, the federal court ruled the Environment Minister Sussan Ley had a common law duty of care to protect younger people against future harm from climate change.

The ruling was made after eight teenagers sought an injunction to prevent Minister Ley from approving a coalmine expansion proposal.

In coming to his decision, Justice Mordecai Bromberg wrote: “As Australian adults know their country, Australia will be lost and the world as we know it gone as well.

“Trauma will be far more common and good health harder to hold and maintain.”

“None of this will be the fault of nature itself. It will largely be inflicted by the inaction of this generation of adults, in what might fairly be described as the greatest intergenerational injustice ever inflicted by one generation of humans upon the next.”

Wow, the kids won and, no doubt, they will win again in the future as courts in Australia and around the world are beginning to recognise the existence of a government duty of care to avoid climate harms.

Now all we have to do is convince our political leaders that we need this change and we need it now.

TONY FONTES,

Jubilee Pocket