Munmorah: climate is the real security issue

As the Lowy Institute poll on Australian opinion showed in August, Australians know climate change is a far greater threat to the nation than terrorism, yet interestingly security was prioritised by some media commentators. It is understandable the press asked questions about security and explored all angles but, come on. Why focus on grilling Delta on how activists were able to slip into their facility, which is a small target by any standard, when the real issue is our politicians’ lack of vision to move this country away from its dependence on coal? This just played into the hands of the power generator and the police by allowing them to avoid the real issue of climate change.

The issue of burning coal, which is usually regionalised despite its national and global ramifications, finally got a response at the federal level in what must be the most absurd comment John Howard has ever made. In response to a journalist’s question on the NSW power station he said: “Howard’s my name… Ne’er a Iemma, a Watkins or a Della Bosca in sight.” That’s a predictable cop out Mr Howard but the fact is if climate change is a national issue, so is coal. Likewise, both environment ministers were nowhere to be seen when the curly questions on coal were being asked. If our ministers really are the brave leaders they are spruiking themselves to be in their election campaigns, why were they avoiding Greenpeace’s questions?

The UN’s Nobel prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has just reiterated that the state of the climate is dire, that the situation is now critical and stressed the need to start reducing emissions immediately. As one of the world’s worst climate culprits, Australia must stop shirking responsibility.
If we see a change of government next weekend, Greenpeace will be asking Mr Rudd how he plans to stop our greenhouse pollution spiralling upwards. Ratifying Kyoto is not the end game – the end game is reducing Australia’s embarrassing levels of pollution, and that means we have to start phasing out coal.

It’s up to state and federal governments to commit to making deep cuts in the next decade and ensuring a just transition for coal workers and coal communities. The ALP’s climate policies may be more progressive than the Coalition’s but they still haven’t fronted up to the coal question. And, if Rudd wins, next time it won’t be so easy to blame the states.

Lou Clifton, Greenpeace Australia Pacific.