Federal election 2019: Greens candidate for Parramatta drives climate-change policies

The Greens candidate for Parramatta believes the loss of thousands of mature trees in the west’s development drive has led to more extreme weather events.

Greens candidate Phil Bradley says more needs to be done to tackle global warming.

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Western Sydney is at the coalface in the battle against the worsening impacts of climate change.

This is the strong view of Greens candidate Phil Bradley, who is being recycled for a fourth consecutive crack at winning the seat of Parramatta, after contesting the 2010, 2013 and 2016 federal elections.

Mr Bradley believes the loss of thousands of mature trees in the west’s development drive has led to more extreme weather events.

Phil Bradley says there will be an even long-term greater cost if more is not done to tackle climate change now.

“There is clear evidence in western Sydney of dramatically rising temperatures — and this has coincided with more development,” said the Parramatta councillor, who is at the long odds of $41 with Sportsbet to unseat incumbent MP Julie Owens.

“Within our children’s lifetime, we’re facing a ten-fold increase in 40-degree temperatures. Even above 35 degrees, people start suffering ill health effects.

“With all the new development, we are losing a lot more trees than we’re gaining. (Parramatta) Council does have an environmental sustainability policy, which involves increasing tree canopies. But we should be doing more.

“We need more water parks and water features in city centres, and energy efficiencies need to be improved.”

Environmental issues are set to be at the forefront of voters’ minds when they go to the polls on May 18.

An Ipsos survey this month found that 23 per cent of those polled were concerned about the environment. This compares to 14 per cent in the lead-up to the 2016 federal election.

“We’re seeing all these extreme weather events, right across Australia, with a 1-degree temperature rise. And we’re heading towards a 3-degree rise by 2100, even with our Paris commitments,” Mr Bradley said.

“There’s an enormous cost that comes with these extreme weather events, and research shows the costs of not doing something about global warming will far exceed the costs of doing something about it now.”

The Greens are pushing for a move to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 82 per cent over the next decade. Both targets are significantly higher than those of the Coalition and Labor Party.

“The least difficult thing of all the things we need to do is go to 100 per cent renewable energy — and we’re struggling to do that,” Mr Bradley said.

“It’s sensible economics to mitigate against climate change.”