Corporation under constant attack from the government

Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (GEFC) has been under constant attack from the Coalition Government.

This national climate change abatement body still operates, but a renewed assault is expected following the introduction of new Senate in July.

The CEO of the corporation, Jillian Broadbent, talked with Geraldine Doogue on Radio National this morning outlining the corporation’s success, pointing out that it has already facilitated $1.8bn of private sector investment and made a profit.

Ms Broadbent explained that abolition of the GEFC could cost taxpayers more than $100 million in lost revenue.

Interestingly a question to Ms Broadbent about world facing a changed climate was conveniently, and politely sidestepped with the observation that being so busy with the immediate work of the corporation, she had no real time to consider it.

CEFC head, Jillian Broadbent.

Mr Broadbent does not deserve any criticism, but her response is common to many involved in climate change mitigation work who become so embroiled in their specific and immediate challenges that the sweeping and global task of addressing climate change seems to vanish into the depths of the filing cabinet.

Individual institutional efforts are wonderful and warrant applause, but until we find ourselves on a war-like footing that swept the world in the lead-up to World War Two, those disparate efforts will amount to nought.

Climatologists explain that not only do we have to slow our carbon dioxide emissions to zero, an unimaginable goal in our business as usual world, but we soon have achieve negative figures, something that is even more inconceivable.

With the situation continually worsening, arguments for geo-engineering projects will become more forceful compelling us to embrace ideas that are both costly, untested and processes that might bring unstoppable consequences for which humanity is absolutely and totally unprepared.