Ocasio-Cortez says we need World War II-scale action on climate. Here’s what that looks like

The Green New Deal resolution introduced last week by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) states that fighting climate change requires “a new national, social, industrial, and economic mobilization on a scale not seen since World War II.”

Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Ed
Markey (right D-MA) announce the Green new deal
legislation outside the U.S. Capitol early in February.

The world’s leading climate scientists agree. In 2015, for instance, they called for a sweeping mobilization — “a radical transition (deep decarbonization now and going forward),” as they described it — to avoid catastrophic impacts of climate change. And last October, the world’s nations unanimously agreed with our top scientists that preserving a livable climate requires “system changes” across the economy that “are unprecedented in terms of scale.”

Read the ThinkProgress story by Joe Romm - “Ocasio-Cortez says we need World War II-scale action on climate. Here’s what that looks like.”

Australia tried to water down climate change resolution at Pacific Islands Forum: leader

Australia attempted to water down a resolution on climate change agreed by country representatives at the Pacific Islands Forum, a leader attending the event has claimed.

Flags fly on Nauru for the Pacific Islands Forum. Australia
attempted to resist the strong language in the Boe declaration
 which says climate change is the ‘single greatest threat’ to the Pacific. 

Pacific leaders issued the Boe declaration on Wednesday night, calling climate change “the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific” at the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum, which has been held in Nauru this week.

However the forum communique – which focused heavily on climate change and the need for emissions reductions – was endorsed by leaders “with qualification”.

Read the story by Kate Lyons and Ben Doherty from The Guardian - “Australia tried to water down climate change resolution at Pacific Islands Forum: leader.”

UDV push on climate

UDV members from across Victoria descended on the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the 42nd UDV annual meeting and conference.

Ashlee Hammond delivers a presentation
at the UDVannual meeting after being
appointed as UDV manager following eight
 months as acting manager.

A number of functions were held throughout the May 4 event, with members passing a number of resolutions on the day.

Members voted not to support calls for a prescribed code of conduct within the industry, in what would have been a strengthening of the current voluntary code, without adopting the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s recommendations

Ashlee Hammond delivers a presentation at the UDV annual meeting after being appointed UDV manager following eight months as acting manager. to institute a mandatory code of conduct.

Issues regarding water markets, research and development and branch participation were also voted on.

In a significant step, a resolution regarding the UDV taking a strong stand regarding climate change was passed.

The resolution referred to increased research, development and investment to allow for adaptation to climate change on farm to minimise its impact on farmers.

Story from Country News - “UDV push on climate.”