Climate Change is the single greatest threat facing our planet. This debate has been waged for longer than I have been alive and it is over. Global Climate change is real, it is caused mainly by emissions released from burning fossil fuels and it poses a catastrophic threat to the long-term longevity of our planet.
If we do nothing, the planet will continue to heat up as high as 3 degree Celcius according to most scientists by the end of this century. But what would that do to our community?
More Frequent asthma attacks, greater chance of respiratory illness, higher food prices, insufficient drinking water globally leading to higher water prices, greater chance of cyclones and longer lasting season, higher insurance costs, higher electricity costs, higher fuel costs, longer lasting and more virulent flu seasons and, more infectious diseases.
But this isn’t just a problem for the future. The impacts of climate change are apparent here and now. Whether it’s more intense bush fires, more frequent and damaging cyclones or damage due to more frequent flooding from extreme weather conditions, climate change is here and its already causing devastating human suffering. The worst part is that people who live in low-income and indigenous communities will bear the most severe consequences of society’s addiction to fossil fuels.
Climate Change is basically every kind of issue at once – It is an economic issue, a public health issue, due to its role in exacerbating conflict in the middle east, the result being global terrorism, it is a national security issue and the impact it will have on our most vulnerable and our youth and future generations make it a moral obligation.
The time for debate is over, the time for action and creating solutions is now.
So why haven't we solved it yet?
Solving this should be straightforward. After all, the majority of Territorians understand the seriousness of climate change, and they demand action. It was an issue for the major and minor parties at our last local elections. Some 97 percent of scientists agree about the urgent need to act and the vocal minority who don’t are bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry.
But this is a global issue not just a local one. Just as a small sub-section of our global community mainly a subsection of multi-national corporations that actively seek to strip-mine the resources of nations for the benefit of a few are actively fighting to destroy the environment, so it is even more important that at a local community level we do our part.
Let’s be clear, if the world was truly democratic, then this issue would already be tackled and solved. But these corporations have deliberately chosen to put profits ahead of the health of our people and planet.
Here’s the Good news!
Our society is already moving in the right direction. Solar panels cost over 70% percent less than they did in 2005 and they’re popping up on rooftops everywhere. Nearly a full quarter of the world’s electricity today comes from clean, sustainable resources like the sun and wind.
Doing it right means ensuring that workers have the skills, equipment, and training they need to succeed in a clean energy economy. It also means workers need to be able to organize and advocate for good wages and safe working conditions. The key is to stop selling our fossil fuels at discounted prices to multi-national companies for 1/30th the amount that countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. To create Australian owned Natural resource Power companies and show case Australian innovation in renewable and battery technology to accelerate the transition
The Snowy River scheme was scoffed at for decades; We didn’t have enough people! We couldn’t get Australians to work on the project! It would cost too much!
Our government like our local council needs to think big today and commit to the transition to an economy powered by more than 80% clean energy by 2050.
The council has already started this progress, recycling centers at the local dump, Electric and dual fuel car and commercial vehicles, but we can do more.
Solar panels on commercial assets, gas conversion for cooking facilities, Solar powered lights, Camera’s and gates and partnerships with the clean energy council of Australia to seek an expanse on not just recycling centers but also in energy creation projects.
The answer is clear and affordable. The solutions are within our reach locally, stand by Sam4 Richardson this local council election this August and we can make it happen. You may only think you have one voice. But it matters!
Note : Written and Authorized by Sam Wilks. The views included may not be those of others mentioned in the article but are those of Sam Wilks. If you have other idea’s feel free to comment below. Idea’s and differing opinion is recognition of a free and just democratic society. A Society I am happy to live in. Please however try not to be abusive or discriminative, you may be. But if I feel that your opinion may be harmful or is reported as being harmful, I will delete it.