Who’s not doing enough on climate change

David Haslingden, right, has penned an open letter to Angus Taylor, left.

An open letter to Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor:

Angus,

All of us born and raised on the Monaro have an enduring connection with the land. So I know you not only understand the ­science around global warming but also feel deeply about the ­dramatic change to much of your own heritage and what you love.

Having spent close to 25 years running National Geographic’s businesses, I’ve also come to understand the science and have visited many of the most consequential areas with climate scientists and natural historians. I’ve also followed the US and Australian progress at Kyoto and performance thereafter.

I’ve read the reports and understand the debate. When you cut through it, it’s not complicated. The human race is burning far too many fossil fuels and has for a long time. As a result of this and other human activities we have increased average global temperature by 0.8C from pre-industrial levels. The extreme weather events we are seeing all over the world (like our prolonged drought and unprecedented fire season) are the direct result.

Illustration: Eric Lobbecke

The overwhelming view of ­scientists is that our activities will increase average global temperatures again, taking us above Paris’s 1.5C target. Unless significant measures are undertaken by the largest countries and unless our scientists, business community and entrepreneurs perform at their best, it is likely warming will continue placing the livelihood of billions of people in jeopardy. Australia’s ­location and geography mean we will suffer far more than most other developed nations.

Your recent letter in The Australian asserted that if you look at the facts we should be proud of our record on climate change.

I strongly disagree. The highlights as I see them are that Australia is the third largest exporter of fossil fuel emissions, after Russia and Saudi Arabia, and we will soon double our output of the dirtiest of them with the approval of the Adani coalmine. Our per capita emissions are the highest among all developed rich countries. Due to the deftness of our representatives from Kyoto to Madrid we have limited our pledges to levels that have required little if any modification of our mining and other emission practices.

You’re an intelligent and hardworking person. I have little doubt you understand the science and the reality of our performance, and I appreciate that the arguments you make are the best case to support real politic decisions that balance the needs of multiple constituents and issues.

Protesters at a climate change protest outside NSW Parliament. Picture: Damian Shaw

Your letter in The Australian expresses these: we contribute only 1.3 per cent of global emissions so by definition what we do will have no material impact. While it’s true we export a further 3.7 per cent of global fossil fuel emissions, China, India and our other buyers will get their coal and liquefied natural gas from elsewhere if not from us. Whether humanity triumphs over global warming will be decided by what others do, so we should depart from optimal economic activity as little as necessary to comply with our obligations as a global citizen and make those obligations as unrestrictive as possible. This is what is in the best interests of Australia; “quiet Australians” know it and are proud of it.

Who are these quiet Australians you imagine? They’re not the quiet Australian we grew up admiring. Those are the people who, when called to action, come together without fuss to make individual sacrifices for the greater good. Like those we honour every Anzac Day, men and women admired by the world for their grit, bravery and willingness to sacrifice for a greater cause. They didn’t stay at home because larger forces would decide the final outcome, and their leaders didn’t assume they’d prefer to be left at home, let alone be proud to.

A firefighter conducts back burning on the NSW Central Coast.

These quiet Australians haven’t disappeared — just look at the volunteer firefighters who go back day after day, risking their lives for others’ homes and our incredible habitat even though without rain the fires are unstoppable and little rain is in sight.

The truth is, Australians all over want our leaders to deal with climate change as the enormity of its impact on Australia demands. We’re ready to put our backs into efforts you promote to decarbonise our economy and we’re confident with the right stewardship our economy can prosper significantly, especially if you champion those efforts quickly and effectively (see Ross Garnaut’s excellent book Superpower, Australia’s Low Carbon Opportunity). We understand it doesn’t matter if past decisions have proven to be ill-advised, or that other important goals like a surplus will need to be postponed. We don’t accept that what Australia does makes no difference to global issues, and we reject the notion we should do little because the outcome of our efforts is uncertain.

As we both know, farmers on the Monaro have long understood their livelihood depends on the weather and they could do nothing to alter its course. It will be a great loss for Australia if you don’t do your utmost to be the first one for whom that may not be true.

Yours sincerely,

David Haslingden

David Haslingden is chairman of the Australian Geographic Society.