More than 20 civil society groups ranging from trade unions to youth, health, emergency services and faith-based groups, have united in a call to Australia’s new upper house senators to protect Australians from climate change.
The groups, including ACOSS, the ACTU and Save the Children, said that meant the Senate must vote to keep a price and limit on greenhouse pollution and to protect existing renewable energy laws.
They said the legislation was crucial as it created jobs in the renewable energy sector and provides billions in investment to industry.
“Investing in clean energy production creates jobs, it’s as simple as that,” the groups said in a statement.
Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), said that the organisation supported a price on pollution and renewable energy laws, because low-income earners were most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather, bushfires, floods and food price increases.
“People living on low-incomes will be the first and worst hit by the effects of climate change.
“It is irresponsible to repeal the clean energy laws when they remain the only credible and independently assessed mechanism for Australia to adopt.”
“Rewarding investment in clean energy and energy efficiency assistance programmes makes sense, creating significant employment opportunities and leading to substantial savings in energy costs over time,” Dr Goldie said.
“There are no climate change sceptics at the end of a fire hose,” said Peter Marshall, National Secretary of the United Firefighters Union of Australia
“Firefighters know that climate change is real and happening now.
“They see it in the changing patterns, frequency and intensity of recent blazes in several states,” Mr Marshall added.
Andrew Dettmer, National President of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, said the union movement supported a price on pollution because it is the best way to secure the future of workers, their families and the Australian community.
“Making polluters pay, rather than ordinary Australian families, is the fairest way to protect Australians from climate change,” Mr Dettmer said.
“Investing in clean energy production creates jobs, it’s as simple as that.”
“Global warming is not only an environmental issue,” said Michael Moore, CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia.
“Without dramatic action the potential for adverse impacts on health are enormous.
“There is already evidence of an increase in vector- borne disease, depression as farm land becomes less viable as well as injury and death associated with adverse weather events,” Mr Moore added.
“We see it as a moral and theological imperative to recognise the rights of all people, especially the rights of future generations and those in poverty, who will bear the heavy cost of our dependence on carbon-based energy if we lack the will to limit climate change,” said Dr Beth Heyde, Member of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, and Chair of the Public Affairs Commission of the Anglican General Synod.
“The Synod met just last week and unanimously expressed grave concern to the government that a market mechanism such as an Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is not part of its strategy to address climate change.
The Synod urged the government to do much more to decrease Australia’s heavy fossil fuel dependence.
“A market mechanism such as an ETS is not a carbon tax, it is a key way by which 21st century Australia can achieve two important goals: lowering the very serious risks from global warming which have been so clearly identified by the IPCC, and moving to a thriving, sustainable economy based on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels,” said Dr Heyde.
“As young people, we have the most at stake and we need our leaders to listen and act urgently,” said Lucy Manne, National Co-Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.
“Our message to new Senators is this: think about your children and grandchildren, the future generations who will bear the cost of your decisions on climate,” said Ms Manne.
“What mustn’t be forgotten in this debate is that our price on pollution is working,” said Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
“Since its inception, pollution from electricity generation has fallen more than ten per cent, total pollution has fallen more than at any time in more than two decades, clean energy is booming and all without hurting families.
“Why would any government scrap a policy that works as well and as efficiently as this one?” she asked.
