In the election campaign both major parties are
short-changing the environment but by far the weakest response to environmental
issues comes from the Coalition.
The Coalition parties' attitude is encapsulated in a
comment made by Nationals leader Warren Truss in an election broadcast –
"You don't improve the environment by trashing the economy." Truss
and many other politicians miss the point entirely when they speak of the
economy and the environment as being separate entities with the economy the
central matter. They do not understand that the economy and the human community
are subsets of the natural environment. A healthy economy is
dependent ultimately on a healthy environment.
Politicians such as Warren Truss may learn this in the
future as the effects of climate change start to impact severely on our way of
life – and on the economy.
Truss' comment referred to the carbon tax which he and
his Coalition allies have promised to abolish.
While the Coalition officially acknowledges that
climate change is a problem, there is still the taint of climate scepticism
about some Coalition politicians including the Opposition Leader Tony
Abbott. His climate change is "absolute crap" statement was
made some time ago but more recently we have had his disparaging comment about
the "invisible substance".
Two major components of the Coalition's Direct Action
policy on climate change are planting trees and paying farmers for storing
carbon in their soils. Another more significant one is paying polluters
to reduce their emissions rather than making them pay for
polluting. Just how effective an incentive this will be in encouraging
polluters to move to a low carbon economy is very doubtful.
There are serious questions about the
effectiveness of this policy in meeting the target reductions to which the
Coalition committed. There are also questions about the cost of the
scheme. A recent report commissioned by the independent Climate
Commission highlights the problems with the Coalition scheme.
Another Coalition policy which has serious implications
for the natural environment is the pledge to reduce what developers call
"green tape" and to leave much environmental governance to the
states. The idea behind this is to make it easier for business and
prevent duplication – naturally something business and industry applauds.
However, removing federal oversight is not in the interests of the natural
environment or the broader community. Consider, for example, what has
happened to environmental regulation / environmental protection in NSW under
the current state government where, for example, marine reserve
protection has been downgraded, national parks are to be opened up to
recreational hunters and land-clearing regulations have been eased.
Giving the states either too much power or sole power on environmental
protection is almost certain to be disastrous for the natural
environment.
The Coalition has committed $20 billion to road
infrastructure but is ignoring investment in rail which is a much less carbon
intensive method of transport. According to the Australasian Railway
Association (quoted in Smoke and mirrors, with no policy on
smoke http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/smoke-and-mirrors-with-no-policy-on-smoke-20130825-2sjoc.html) 14% - 76 million tonnes per year - of Australia's greenhouse emissions are
generated by transport. 90 % of these emissions are attributable to road
transport and only 2% to rail. Investment in rail in this
carbon-constrained world is sensible policy. Why is this not obvious to
Mr Abbott and his team?
Other policies/announcements which are cause for concern include:
* The scrapping of the Biodiversity Fund (originally $1 billion but which now stands at $600 million) and replacement with a $300
million "Green Army".
* Slashing of the $10 billion renewable energy fund and replacement with a $1 billion solar roofs program. Plans to review and possibly weaken the current renewable energy target.
* A proposal to build up to 100 dams throughout the country.
Simplistic sloganeering has been the hallmark of the
Coalition in Opposition. If they win government, they won't be able to
rely on slogans. Environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, and
particularly preparing Australia for the climate challenge ahead, will test the
new government. The Coalition's policies show that it is ill-prepared to
meet that challenge.
Hildegard
Northern Rivers
30 August 2013
* Guest Speak is a North Coast Voices
segment allowing serious or satirical comment from NSW Northern Rivers
residents. Email ncvguestpeak at gmail dot com dot au to submit comment for
consideration.
