Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore has expressed her extreme disappointment at Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s climate change proposal.
“This is an inaction plan which will no doubt please the coal industry and the fossil fuel lobby but which is a completely inadequate response to dealing with the pressing issue of climate change,” she said.
“The time for talking is over. The overwhelming evidence for human-induced climate change has been in front of us for ages, and we should have started taking action years ago.
“The idea that we can sit around talking about it while emissions rise, and the climate changes beyond the point that we will be able to have any influence on fixing it, is unacceptable and inexcusable.
“Climate change will have huge impacts in the electorate of Eden-Monaro. There are farming communities that may no longer have access to adequate water, or be able to produce the same food and fibre; coastal communities that will be affected by rising sea levels; and High Country communities that rely on adequate snowfalls in winter and that are already noticing the changes from higher spring temperatures. In addition there are growing urban centres of population that rely on adequate rainfall, healthy rivers and recharging of bores for their very existence.
“There are areas rich in biodiversity and whole ecosystems that may be lost due to altered temperatures and water availability. Forests may die and river systems will at be at risk, with three rivers in the Snowy Mountains relying on snow melts to feed them.
“On the other hand, Eden-Monaro has huge potential to provide renewable energy development zones, as described in The Greens’ renewable energy policy announced on July 24 by Senator Christine Milne.
“There is no room for climate change denial at this time in history. Acting to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases is a win-win situation, as it will only benefit the environment and human health, regardless of the progression of climate change,”said Catherine.
The Greens’ Safe Climate (Renewable Energy Infrastructure) Bill is a vital step in planning the transition to 100% renewable energy in Australia, giving Infrastructure Australia several new planning tasks that will be essential in making that transition as rapidly and efficiently as possible.
To see the details of the plan, visit http://christine-milne.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-pla...
Catherine Moore will be in Conversation with Tony Kevin, former diplomat and author of Crunch Time, on the subject of climate change at 7.30pm on Thursday July 29 at the Cooma Ex-Services Club and on August 3 at the Letchworth Neighbourhood Centre in Queanbeyan.