Climate science is clear
“The climate change argument is absolute crap” Tony Abbott said in 2009.
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But is man-made climate change real?
Most of the world’s climate scientists state that our reckless use of fossil fuels is having an adverse effect on our climate.
A climatic effect that has led to higher temperatures and an increase in unusual weather patterns.
Organisations and institutions such as NASA, Oxford University and the Franco-German Fellowship Programme have provided us with facts-based, thoroughly researched evidence.
Evidence that leads to but one conclusion; mankind must take immediate action to reduce emissions so that we may leave our grandchildren and their grandchildren a planet that is still habitable.
The handbrake on taking meaningful action to curb emissions comes from relatively small number of people like Tony Abbott, Donald Trump and Sky News contributors, who feel that they know better than the climate scientists.
The climate change deniers appear ignorant of the difference between weather and climate. Either ignorant or deliberately misleading by selecting a weather event as proof of their belief that climate change isn’t happening.
The current Australian government is failing miserably to address man-made climate change in any meaningful manner.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, when treasurer, once proudly displayed a lump of coal in parliament. Morrison, with coal in hand, stated, “This is coal, don’t be afraid, don’t be scared”.
Morrison’s grandstanding was intended to indicate that the use of coal-fired power stations was necessary to keep the lights burning and to reduce the cost of power; neither have eventuated.
The evidence is in, there can be no doubt that climate change is real and is happening now. Serious action needs to be taken to cut emissions and support scientific research into the provision of new non-fossil fuel power.
Mike Sargent
Cootamundra
Women in federal government
The federal government is now looking like a boys' club with less than one quarter of government MPs being women. The shock resignation of the Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer a few weeks ago must trigger alarm bells.
She joins a long list of Liberal women departing politics. Queensland MP Jane Prentice failed to gain pre selection, South Australian Lucy Gichuhi has been relegated to an unwinable spot on the party's Senate ticket and Ann Sudmalis blamed branch stacking, undermining and leaks for her decision not to recontest Gilmore. Julie Banks also abandoned the Liberal party late last year and moved to the crossbench describing the treatment of women in Parliament as years behind the business world.
For a healthy and truly representative democracy we must have gender equality. This government by its own record is discouraging women from participating in politics. The resignation of the Minister for Women says it all. No wonder Zali Steggall is running as an independent against Tony Abbott in Warringah..