The groundswell of direct action on climate change, abroad and at home, from the school strikers to Extinction Rebellion, is echoing in the federal parliament. Shadow minister for climate change and energy Mark Butler announced today that Labor will move for a climate-emergency declaration, joining the crossbenchers and the Greens who have their own motion in train. It is real progress, never mind who gets the credit.
Late yesterday afternoon, a dozen MPs from Labor and the crossbench, members of Parliamentary Friends of Climate Action, met in a committee room to hear a briefing from experts on the dire health threats to Australians from global warming of more than 1.5 degrees. Ahead of the meeting, co-chair Helen Haines revealed that she would move a motion for a national strategy on climate and agriculture, seconded by Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie. Deputy chair Zali Steggall told the meeting that climate action was the whole reason she had gone into politics: “We are working hard, it’s not business as usual.” Also attending were Adam Bandt, plus Labor MPs Ged Kearney, Anika Wells, Peta Murphy, Mike Freedlander, Libby Coker and Josh Burns.
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