Climate ‘is changing’

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY POLICY HAS BEEN PARALYSED ON THIS FOR 10 YEARS, AND WE HAVE SUFFERED AS A RESULT.

— SAM BIRRELL

WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. THIS NEXT DECADE IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PLANET AND HUMAN SOCIETY.

— HELEN REYNOLDS

During the next few weeks, The News will run a series of interviews with community leaders about their views on climate change. We asked four questions: 1: What is your position on global warming and climate change? 2: Are we doing enough to mitigate the impact of climate change in the region? 3: Do community and business leaders have a role in advocating for more action, and positioning our region to take advantage of emerging opportunities? 4: What is your number one priority to help mitigate the impacts of climate change? Today we feature the responses of Committee for Greater Shepparton chief executive Sam Birrell and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority chair Helen Reynolds.

Sam Birrell

What is your position?

This is like asking someone what their position is in relation to gravity. It doesn’t matter what my position is, when I jump, I come back down.

The climate is changing. It has always been changing, but has been changing more rapidly in recent times.

Ninety-eight per cent of the scientific community who study this phenomenon through the process of peer review agree that emission of greenhouse gas is the significant cause of this recent rapid climate change.

It is my position that scientific consensus should be acknowledged.

Are we doing enough?

The answer is no, because global emissions continue to rise.

But in relation to climate change, it is interesting to understand what we mean by our region. Climate change is a global phenomenon, so if one region of the globe reduces its emissions by 15 per cent and another region increases its emissions by 15 per cent the net impact on slowing climate change is nil.

Many use this as an excuse that Australia doesn’t need to take the problem seriously until everyone else does, which is a cop-out.

However, there does need to be a just transition. If Australia, which has high emissions per capita, was to move to a low emissions economy very quickly, without having set up the market to develop alternative energy sources (such as renewables), the risk is that industry would move off shore to other high emitting countries.

But, the longer we wait to set the market up for renewables, the more opportunities we miss. Federal Government energy policy has been paralysed on this for 10 years, and we have suffered as a result.

Do community and business leaders have a role?

We have an obligation to discuss the issue, acknowledging the complexities in response to a challenging problem. It needs to move from being a left-right political and ideological debate, to a problem that needs nuanced and solution-focused thinking.

Also, technology is emerging at a fast pace (market mechanisms would increase this pace). What was the case two years ago may have completely changed in relation to wind and solar, and battery technology will continue to evolve. That requires constant evaluation of solutions and not being wedded to positions of the past, such as ‘‘coal is good for humanity’’.

It may have been at some time in our history, but as humanity evolves, we work out better ways of doing things.

What is your number one priority?

Although we can all do more personally, we need to advocate to the government to help the market to speed up the development of renewable energy.

Markets respond to signals and stability, and these are two things that have been confused and lacking in federal policy.

We will also continue to work with the business community on ways to use energy more efficiently and tap into renewables.

Helen Reynolds

What is your position?

I woke up this morning to find my lounge room floor strewn with sleeping boys as my eldest son celebrates his 16th birthday.

They’re happy, healthy, funny, intelligent people, but I’m worried about their future.

As a species we’re living beyond the capacity of the planet and as a consequence we’re losing species, damaging ecosystems and our actions are changing the climate. We’re making it a less liveable planet for future generations.

Are we doing enough?

No. The science is clear, we need to do more and quickly. On farms in our region, positive changes are happening. We’ve seen the adoption of no-till farming practices and re-vegetation activities that contribute to the capture and storage of carbon, we’ve seen businesses reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the uptake of solar and other renewable energy. We have the tools available . . . With a greater investment, we could be doing so much more here.

Do community and business leaders have a role ?

Yes. We all have a role to play. This next decade is going to be critical for the health of the planet and human society. Action needs to be taken now and as leaders we have to be advocating for action and for changes in economic drivers to enable changes to take place.

This region is in a great position to take advantage of emerging opportunities from carbon farming to sustainable food production, solar farms and the circular economy. We have innovative people, expertise and a great location.

What is your number one priority?

The greatest impact would come from legislation to cut emissions, limit the consumption of and end the subsidising of fossil fuels and invest in sustainable, renewable energy.

Story from The Shepparton News - “Climate ‘is changing’” - by John Lewis.