What are the consequences of not acting on climate?

March 18, 2025

I don’t know if my MP was one of those who was briefed on “the contents of the Office of National Intelligence assessment of climate-related security risks” and I won’t ask, tempting her to break a confidence. But take a wild guess!

On 19 February 2025, Kooyong MP Dr Monique Ryan held a Town Hall meeting, “Climate change and Australian security: a conversation with Admiral Chris Barrie”. The person in conversation with the retired admiral was the author of the article to which this letter is a response, David Spratt. To say it was eye-opening would be an understatement. I suspect many found it “frankly terrifying”.

We must act on environmental and climate issues and demand that our government does so, seriously and without delay. The consequences of not doing so are life-threatening, not in the future but now. Heat-related deaths are becoming more common “now”. And they’re just the start and tiny tip of the iceberg.

This conversation is free to watch on Dr Ryan’s YouTube channel. Highly recommended.