First it was 'sleepwalking into disaster', now it's 'blindly into tragedy'

G

oulburn Valley people were warned in the lead-up to the city’s first ever climate change forum that they were “sleepwalking into disaster”.

And now nearly three years later a similar warning comes from the director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, Jeffrey Sachs.

Sachs has written in The Guardian that in separating nature from economics, we now walk blindly into tragedy.

The story - “‘By separating nature from economics, we have walked blindly into tragedy’” – tells readers that economic policy must be combined with climate and technology if we are to stand any chance of saving ourselves.

Prof Sachs gives good advice, but sadly "no one" is listening

Prof Jeffery Sachs.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs is a man of good advice.

Sadly, those who should be listening, from Australia’s PM, Tony Abbott, down don’t appear to be listening.

Prof Sachs, who is presently in Australia, talks about his disillusionment with Australia’s behaviour in a story in today’s Age headed: “Abbott out of step on climate change, says Professor Jeffrey Sachs”.

The Professor said the Abbott-led coalition was surprised by the sharp reaction to its recent budget, and then added that Mr Abbott would be further surprised by global reaction to its climate policies.