We must get serious about climate change action

In relation to our article The Labor Party has lost its way

Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Oct 11, 2024

Bill Kelty writes, “We need a Labor Party agenda in which the big issues are confronted.” He points to the environment, climate change and indigenous rights as examples. Kelty refreshingly suggests that climate change “is more important than party politics,” but this is easy to say when out of it.

The climate wars were fired up again when Dutton went all out for nuclear and proposed to abandon Australia’s 2030 emissions target. The government wants to co-host COP31 with Pacific Island nations but makes them angry with fossil fuel approvals. The least Australia could do is support the thirteen nations who have signed up to the Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty.

However, during the recent Climate Week event in New York entitled Australian First Nations + Pacific Island Leaders = Climate Success, there were government representatives from Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Tonga on the panel, but there was none from Australia.

While Widjabul Wia-bal woman and CEO of GetUp!, Larissa Baldwin-Roberts, more than held her own, the government’s lack of support was evident to all. Clearly, Australia is not confronting the big issues. Rather, it is running away from them.