Climate change is a challenge for the Dales National Park but there are also great opportunities

THE Yorkshire Dales is facing a growing dilemma over tackling climate change while ensuring that the world-famous landscapes remain open to as many visitors as possible, the National Park’s chief executive has warned.

Tourism is essential for the local Dales economy
but brings its own challenges for climate change.

David Butterworth claimed that while the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has no official remit on climate change, there had been major policies put in place by the organisation which has helped it attain carbon neutral status.

However, he maintained that officers had to recognise there were still significant issues, particularly with the majority of visitors arriving by car.

Read the story from The Yorkshire Post - “Climate change is a challenge for the Dales National Park but there are also great opportunities.”

It's time to speak out - call for climate conversation

Shepparton climate action campaigners have called on business, industry and community leaders to speak out and start conversations on the issue of tackling climate change in the district.

Terry Court (left) and
 John Pettigrew.

Veteran environmental crusaders John Pettigrew, Rob McLean and Terry Court have written to politicians, chief executives, school principals and senior managers around the Goulburn Valley calling on them to support and encourage staff and employees to speak out on responses to climate change.‘‘We want to convince our leaders in the community to take a more proactive role on this issue — to speak out professionally and personally on the need to focus on climate change,’’ Mr Court said.

He said 30 letters had been sent to the leaders of organisations such as Goulburn Valley Water and Goulburn-Murray Water, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, dairy companies, the Chamber of Commerce and private industry to ask for support.

Mr Court said the response had been positive so far.

‘‘We have already had a remarkable response from our leaders.’’

He said many organisations around the area were already implementing changes to address the climate change issue.

‘‘But this is no longer enough. Public silence on the issue by our leaders is no longer acceptable if we are to focus on regional responses,’’ Mr Court said.

‘‘In order to accelerate our efforts and effectiveness we ask that you extend your personal commitment openly to empower your staff and the community to take action,’’ the letter states.

The letter campaign comes nearly a month after they called on Greater Shepparton City Council to declare a climate emergency. Mr McLean has said they are yet to receive a response from the council.

Mr Court said the letter to leaders was not asking them to declare a climate emergency.

Story from The Shepparton News.

Surge in US economists’ support for carbon tax to tackle emissions

US economists led by former US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen are uniting in record numbers to back the idea of a carbon tax as the most effective and immediate way of tackling climate change.

At a time when Democrats including New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are pushing a sweeping “Green New Deal” programme to reduce greenhouse emissions, climate change is shaping up to be a major 2020 election issue. The US is the world’s second-biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, behind China.

But Ms Yellen told the Financial Times the Green New Deal was costly, whereas the carbon tax, which would plough proceeds back to the public in dividend payments, would be the “most efficient way” to reduce emissions.

Read the story from the Financial Times - “Surge in US economists’ support for carbon tax to tackle emissions.”

Australia’s Clean Economy Future: Costs and Benefits

This cost-benefit analysis finds that developing clean economies, whilst tackling climate change will actually deliver economic benefits.

Considering the benefits of dealing with climate change.

This Issues Paper offers a comparison of the costs of emission reduction in Australia relative to the potential damages from climate change under current policy settings.

Overall, the costs of emissions reduction are far less than the damages of inaction – even with modelling underestimating damages from climate change and overestimating the costs of emissions reduction.

This paper finds that transitioning to a low-carbon economy is sound economic development: even when the benefits of reduced emissions are ignored, the economic benefits of a transition to a low-carbon economy easily outweigh the costs.

The management of risk due to exposure to the increasing impacts of climate change is now a central issue for reserve banks, the financial sector and business around the world

Read the story from the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute at the University of Melbourne - “Australia’s Clean Economy Future: Costs and Benefits.”

Berejiklian government creates new climate change division in the public service

The Berejiklian government has further staked its commitment to tackling climate change by setting up a new division in the public sector dedicated to developing policy on energy and climate change.

Gladys Berejiklian at a Liberal Party rally at Sydney Olympic Park on April 28.

The division - called the Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability Division - will form part of the mega-agency of Planning, Industry and Environment, led by Minister Rob Stokes.

Read the story from The Sydney Morning Herald by Lisa Visentin - “Berejiklian government creates new climate change division in the public service."

Tackling climate change a 'financial necessity' says top Australian banking regulator

One of Australia's top banking regulators says tackling climate change has become "a financial necessity" and urged companies and governments to take action to avoid an economic and environmental disaster.

APRA executive member Geoff Summerhayes.CREDIT:

The warning comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison prepares to outline a suite of new climate policies on Monday as the government battles an internal insurgency over its lack of climate action.

A group of Liberal backbenchers believe the government’s weak climate policies are an electoral liability and are agitating for April budget measures to increase funding for renewable energy development and climate change resilience.

Read the story from The Age by Eyrk Bagshaw - “Tackling climate change a 'financial necessity' says top Australian banking regulator.”

Climate-constrained healthcare

On 22 June last year, a rare display of tripartisan support for action on climate change was on display in Parliament House in Canberra. Indigenous health minister Ken Wyatt joined shadow health minister Catherine King and Greens leader Richard Di Natale for the launch of a road map for tackling climate change as an urgent health concern.

Its own footprint: hospitals are a major contributor
 to healthcare’s significant carbon emissions.

Representatives from across the health sector attended the event, where speakers described the wide-ranging health benefits of actions to reduce emissions. The launch was followed by a roundtable discussion hosted by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, where discussions were also marked by a sense of collaboration and goodwill.

All three politicians stressed the importance of the report, Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being, which made recommendations across portfolios, including energy, environment, transport and infrastructure, as well as health. Tellingly, the framework — and the extensive consultation it was based on — was not the work of governments but of a small organisation, the Climate and Health Alliance, or CAHA, and of volunteers rather than health departments or agencies.

Read the story from Inside Story by Melissa Sweet - “Climate-constrained healthcare.”