2024-01-12
The Victorian Greens have supported calls for Australia to name its heatwaves, and say those in Victoria should be named after Premiers to highlight that government decisions over time have placed our climate under threat.
The Greens say successive state governments have directly contributed to a worsening climate by backing fossil fuel projects and ignoring the science telling them strong climate action means no more coal and gas.
Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, Aiv Puglielli, said naming the state’s heatwaves would help communities prepare for extreme temperature events.
He added that naming them after former Premiers would help keep our leaders accountable, and add pressure on them to take stronger climate action and take responsibility for the lasting detrimental impacts of their legacy.
Quotes attributable to Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, Aiv Puglielli MLC:
"Climate disasters like heatwaves and floods are being made worse by the climate crisis, which is fuelled by mining and burning coal and gas.
“Yet here the Victorian Labor Government continues to support new coal and gas projects.
“There are over a dozen new gas drilling projects on the cards in Victoria and they are making the crisis worse.
“The only way to keep people safe is to stop adding more fuel to the climate fire: no more coal and gas.
“Premier – if you’re approving new fossil fuel projects, these devastating events are a part of your legacy.”