ARTICLES
Action to Limit the Outcomes of Human-induced Climate Change
From the Editor
Sydney Town Hall , green in celebration !
Bill McKibben , an American climate-change activist , recently visited Australia to support several groups , all attempting to promote serious action to reduce the worst outcomes of humanenhanced climate change . He spent eight days travelling across Australia with an Australian team , hosting events , engagements and meetings . Thousands of people attended to hear the message to accelerate climate action . He described some of the international progress to advance the pro-climate cause , including one example where New York City took on five fossil fuel companies via legal action . He reported that across the world more than US $ 6 trillion has now been divested from fossil fuels .
Mr McKibben described a grand symbolic gesture by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio , lighting up the Empire State Building in green after the city made its pension fund divestment and legal action commitment . This prompted Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller and her team to turn Sydney Town Hall green on the night of his talk .
From 12th to 14th September , 2018 the Global Climate Action Summit will be held in San Francisco . Seeking to broaden and depoliticise the climate conversation , the Summit will bring together state and local leaders , businesses , scientists , students , and not-for-profit organisations – everyone who recognises the gravity of climate change and is working to resolve it .
The Global Climate Action Summit will make a call for the world to step up their ambitions under the Paris Accord – especially the councils and states breaking through national governments such as Australia ’ s where action on climate change is ambivalent , to say the least . Although the Federal Government claims to be working to fulfil its commitment , it is attempting to force AGL either to maintain its ageing Liddel Power Station to continue using coal beyond 2022 ( since the Company intends to convert it to the use of renewables ) or to sell it to a competitor that would continue coal-powered electricity production . Moreover , $ 2.5Bn set aside by the previous Federal Government to promote renewable energy has largely been used to support fossil fuels . Meanwhile , a large number of Australians have made their own decision to oppose the exacerbated change in climate by paying to have solar panels installed . In fact , now there are substantially more solar panels in Australia than people , so apart from doing their part to reduce the worst aspects of the inevitable disaster , these people also gain handsomely by paying far less for their electricity .
Action is planned in Australia via a summit here just prior to the San Francisco event , with similar aims to unite people . These action groups intend to work with the fossil fuel divestment partners and support community-led movements to get those that have not yet made commitments to do so . At this Summit the company , project , community and organisational leaders working to expand Australia ’ s low carbon economy despite government inaction will be applauded . Indigenous and Pacific Island communities will be given aid to promote exciting new solutions , whilst legal options for communities impacted by climate change will be investigated , following the lead of Bill McKibben ’ s Accelerate Climate Action call .
It is hoped that this action forces policy-makers to recognise that a majority of Australians actually do give a damn . In most countries where the people are made aware of the risks , challenges , and the increasing number of positive steps available other than burning fossil fuels in oxygen , generating CO 2 and other gases endangering our fragile planet , those in power are working hard to decrease the inevitable consequences of what the deniers and those vandalising our world have provoked . There are many here also who are already working to find solutions , in business , academia , the union movement and of course in local communities . All are ready to act as advocates for climate action .
The following article , republished from ‘ The Conversation ’, explains why the present subsidies paid to fossil-fuel companies to provide electric power to Australians waste taxpayers ’ money , as well as being almost 180 ° out of step with most advanced world governments . Moreover , now that statistics indicate that around 70 % of Australians accept the reality of Human-induced Climate-change ( the majority in every major political Party ), in this respect our Federal Government ’ s intransigence acts contrary to public opinion .
43 SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 2