The UN climate change official issuing doomsday appraisals of Australia’s future economy, security and prosperity should spend more time lecturing the world’s biggest emitters in China, India and the US.
Workers, business owners and families who have enough on their plate don’t need hectoring from Simon Stiell, a former Grenada government minister who scored a plum job as executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
While many Australians believe climate change is real, investment in the issue ranges from low-level concern to extreme or radical zealotry. Polling on climate change often shows high levels of concern but little support when asked to pay more. As the Coalition warns Australia’s commitment of net-zero emissions by 2050 will be a “wrecking ball” to the economy, Stiell, Chris Bowen and other climate advocates say inaction will wreak havoc. The loudest voices have dominated debate for too long. All punters observe is two sides who can’t agree on the path ahead.
While the US, Britain, Canada and dozens of western countries pursue zero-emissions nuclear power to hit net-zero targets and power homes and heavy industry, Australia has a renewables-only approach. China, India and the US are the world’s biggest polluters but Australia, population 27.4 million, wears the blame for climate change catastrophe.
Bowen, who has described Stiell as a friend, is on a global charm offensive as Labor seeks to co-host the COP31 summit with Pacific nations next year. He will meet Stiell on Tuesday as the Climate Change Authority finalises advice on a 2035 emissions target.
After a landslide victory, Anthony Albanese and Bowen might go harder than some Labor MPs thought before the election. They must submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions, including a new 2035 target, by September ahead of the November COP30 summit in Brazil. If Australia wins its bid, Albanese – who gave Scott Morrison plenty of grief before the Glasgow COP26 summit – will finally make his first appearance at the UN’s marquee climate change conference.
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