It’s cheap to tackle climate change – but that isn't the reason to do it

If renewables weren’t getting cheaper, would Australia still want to tackle climate change? And if world demand for coal wasn’t declining, would we still want to stop the Adani coalmine being built? After 30 years of democratic failures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in the last five we’ve witnessed technological leaps succeed where elections could not. But what does it say about Australia if we are only willing to save ourselves, and our kids, if we can get a good deal on the price of renewables?

‘Why is it “good for the economy” for people to spend
$100,000 on a big car, but “virtue signalling” to
spend $20,000 on a big solar array?’

Imagine if the Australian and UK governments declined to participate in the war in Iraq because the price of bombs was a bit high. Imagine if the US waited for the price of nuclear missiles to fall before participating in an arms race with Russia. Or imagine if we criticised people for spending more on their cars, clothes or food than was “necessary”.

Read the opinion piece from The Guardian by Richard Denniss - “It’s cheap to tackle climate change – but that isn't the reason to do it.”