CLIMATE ACTION NEEDED
SCIENTISTS have warned us that we have only a decade to get our house in order if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Ten short years. That makes this election extremely important.
For a safe, liveable future, we must hold global warming to 1.5C.
So how do the political parties stack up with their proposed climate policies?
The Coalition government is pursing 26-28 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, based on 2005 levels.
If all other national governments took a similar level of action, Earth would reach at least 3C of warming, bordering on 4C. This would be catastrophic.
That would mean the total destruction of all tropical reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef.
Intense heatwaves over land that currently occur about once a decade could happen almost every other year. Labor’s target of 43 per cent emissions cut by 2030, from 2005 levels is in line with 2C of global warming. That means it’s not consistent with the Paris Agreement. Under 2C of warming, we would still lose the Great Barrier Reef and extreme heat events that currently happen once a decade could occur about every three to four years.
‘Teal’ independents are a group of pro-climate action independent candidates. Most prominent is Warringah MP Zali Steggall, whose climate change bill proposes a 2030 target of 60 per cent below 2005 levels.
Most climate policies of the “teals” are generally in line with the Steggall bill and are consistent with 1.5C of warming, and so compatible with the Paris Agreement.
The Greens offer the strongest climate policies at this election, their target of a 74 per cent cut by 2030, based on 2005 levels, is most comfortably consistent with keeping warming below 1.5C and averting significant devastation – for example, allowing parts of the Great Barrier Reef to survive.
The onus is on the next parliament to protect Australians from climate catastrophe.
On May 21, Australian voters have a chance to send a clear message about the kind of world we want to leave for future generations.
TONY FONTES, Jubilee Pocket.
ALP National President Wayne Swan accused the media of being disrespectful and treating Anthony Albanese harshly. Wayne must have selective sight and hearing if he hasn’t noticed how some of them have been treating Scott Morrison. RON KELSO
COOP 4814. Herbert is a big electorate but John Ring Labor has been personally doorknocking many suburbs. He was at Les Walker’s Family Fun Day at Cambridge Park, Vincent. If you want a chat, give him a call and he’ll happily arrange a time. AG 4812
Couldn’t stop laughing when I read that Scott Stewart can’t fight for Townsville this week due to Covid. Has he had Covid for his whole term? What a joke. BUCKET KWN
Scott Stewart has Covid. He’s sorry he can’t fight for Townsville in parliament. I bet a pound of peanuts he wouldn’t have been fighting to stop the crime rate. COOP 4814
Swervin, Kirwan – renewable energy provides the cheapest electricity in history and has been driving bills down in Australia and around the world. If we weren’t still so exposed to expensive, inflationary fossil fuels we’d be enjoying even more benefit
from our vast renewable resources. STEVE, BELGIAN GARDENS
Jade’s bombshell is nothing new as it has happened throughout the entertainment era for decades and before that. Name and shame.
M J REYNOLDS MT LOUISA
There is a push to dump the word ‘mate’? What do they want to change it to, ‘comrade’? BD 4812
Anthony Albanese and his shadow ministry make the Keystone Cops look like a bunch of geniuses and the polls are pointing to them being elected to be the Federal government. Work that one out. REB KELSO
Are the haters going to blame Scott Morrison for the crypto market collapse? They blame him for everything else. MG 4814
PK Currajong, you are right, when you consider that Townsville has a population base almost the size of the whole of the Northern Territory, it gives food for thought about how this city is managed. BOB THE BUILDER 4911
The Bully reports Scott Stewart has Covid and will not be able to attend parliament and “fight for Townsville”. Don’t worry Scott we will hardly notice the difference. DB NORTH SHORE
Congratulations to Mr Lindsay for his letter to the editor 9/5. The personal slurs against our Prime Minister are despicable. Mr Morrison’s careful & compassionate leadership has ensured that Australia rode the Covid wave in a professional manner in spite of the states having over the top lockdown laws and emerged from it with economic stability. Responsible government is what Australia needs and we have it in the Morrison led Government. LYN CRANBROOK
While Putin and his warmongering generals are celebrating in Moscow why has no country taken this opportunity to end this third world war? One missile, done deal.
RAY, HUGHENDEN