Politicians need courage
In the early 70s scientists found chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, were literally tearing holes in the earth's ozone layer. Invisible and unnoticeable, a certain amount of faith was required to trust the scientific reports. This was no hypothesis, it was a scientific theory, because it was based upon evidence collected over time.
The solution to ozone depletion was delivered via governments around the world. A ban on the offending chemicals resulted in a relatively quick adaptation by industry, and the public. Simply using your finger to pump the spray pack was deemed palatable.
Enter climate change and things have taken a strange and somewhat insidious turn. People calling out for change are being labelled hair-shirted activists in some of our nation's newspapers. One or two dubious reports hit the streets and we have a wave of ill-informed statements such as the 'unproven hypothesis of man-made global warming'.
Scientists and economists, supported by their respective governments, have presented a very clear message. Do something now, or else. Jobs will not be lost if we adapt and develop local businesses, manufacturers and community organisations, now.
Contradictory to their own reports, governments now appear enslaved by opinion polls and the revenue earned from the big greenhouse-gas offenders. Coal and oil are rapidly becoming the CFCs of the 21st century, but this time the politicians have selected hearing. This time the solutions are more complex.
Turning a light off that is powered by a coal-fired power station, is like asking someone to use a CFC-based spray can sparingly. It certainly helps and most certainly should be encouraged, but the only long-term fix is for governments to ban the harmful substance.
The Prime Minister recognises climate-change-induced coral bleaching is killing the Barrier Reef. At the same time we witness an expansion of coal infrastructure to accommodate increased Queensland exports.
As for oil, the Queensland Government in one instance leads the way in recognising it as a finite resource (Queensland's vulnerability to rising oil prices - taskforce report), whilst it continues to encourage more roads and urban sprawl.
Reducing fuel tax, or protecting the coal industry is irresponsible and will not help Australians prepare for the aftermath of peak oil and the problems of climate change.
Southeast Queenslanders are acutely aware of finite resources such as drinking water. Other than its absurd insistence on spending tax-payer dollars on a shallow body of water masquerading as a dam at Traveston Crossing, the Government correctly recognised the need to use our existing water supplies more efficiently and sparingly. Why are we not seeing large-scale public projects aimed at reducing oil dependence? Why aren't we witnessing the rapid birth of an array of renewable energy sources as a viable coal alternative?
Reports on climate change and peak oil are not hypotheses that require further debate. They arose from sound, scientific theory. Our politicians need to stand up and meet community expectations. More importantly, they need to have the courage to lead the way and take action just as they did with CFCs.
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