Some weeks ago, Malcolm Turnbull said on ABC TV "the public 'look up' to politicians", but this is surely very questionable.
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We observe how the primary focus of politicians is more on retaining power rather than offering visionary and active leadership towards a better more sustainable future for all sectors of the community.
Greta Thunberg rightfully says, "climate experts are being ignored".
The longer-term impact of man-made climate-change will ultimately prove to be more damaging to our way-of-live than COVID-19 when we include environmental damage, food insecurity, mass emigration and likely global conflict.
Our weak and non-cohesive fight against climate-change is propelling us towards a global state of climate irreversibility. Critical 'impact areas' which we are failing to address urgently, include:
1. The Murray-Darling Basin: Scientists have long warned of the imminent collapse of the system unless strong measures are taken against global warming.
2. The Great Barrier Reef: The Marine Park Authority reports that "Climate change poses the greatest threat".
3. Bushfires: The Royal Commission's final report provides a stark warning of a future marked by extreme weather events as a result of climate-change.
4. Land Aridity: With our weather becoming hotter and drier parts of the country are becoming more arid putting more pressure on our economy and our infrastructure.
The over-whelming conclusion from the above examples as confirmed by the relevant scientific and authoritative bodies is that climate-change is progressively worsening the health of both the Murray-Darling Basin and the Great Barrier Reef, increasing the frequency and severity of bushfires, and expanding the arid regions of Australia, all as a consequence of man-made climate-change.
The challenge we face is one of quickly curbing our green-house gas emissions to minimize the inevitable further impact of global-warming. Yet as Ms Thunberg says, "Climate experts are being ignored".
Alarmingly, Scott Morrison refuses to commit Australia to net zero emissions by year 2050 although the UK, Japan and the Republic of Korea, together with more than 110 other countries, have pledged carbon neutrality by 2050.
Why do our politicians run from accepting the science confirming a future of devastating outcomes resulting from a warming planet?
Why do they behave as if they are immune from such responsibility, and why do voters continue to vote for candidates that are not strongly committed to urgent action on climate-change?
The belief that "it's all about jobs and the economy" (as politicians often recite), has no substance unless all jobs are sustainable without impact on our health, our way of life, and the environment.
"We cannot make it without science" says Greta Thunberg, and "climate experts are being ignored". So true; and whilst this continues, very hard indeed "to look up to our politicians" with other than frustration and anger.