Australia climate impacts: Scary reality tills the ground for 2035 emissions cut target
Chris Bowen was remarkably upbeat for someone unveiling a thousand pages of doom and gloom scenarios outlining the catastrophes climate change could wreak on Australia.
The Climate Change Minister is trying not to scare the pants off voters completely while also, well, scaring them enough to understand why Australia needs to significantly shift the scale and speed of its actions to cut emissions.
“I choose to look at an optimistic frame,” Mr Bowen declared, Pollyanna-style, during his press conference.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.How should people reading that Fremantle might be underwater for 200-plus days a year think about what that means for the house they’ve managed to buy?
“Let’s be realistic about the threats. But also, let’s be optimistic about the future because if we take action, we can avoid the worst of the impacts.”
What would the burden be on households or local governments of taking action?
“I wouldn’t use the word burden.”
Mr Bowen will release the long-awaited 2035 goal for stepping up emissions cuts later this week.
He’s been pulled between environment groups and a not-insignificant chunk of the caucus on one side demanding a high target, and on the other, companies and householders fearful of how much they’ll have to spend to change course from business-as-usual and cut emissions.
Ambitious and achievable have been his bywords.
The scary risk analysis is a key part of tilling the ground for the “ambitious” nature of the next steps.
But anyone listening to Mr Bowen on Monday would be forgiven for coming away confused about whether the Government has everything in hand or if Australia needs to hit the panic stations.
Originally published on The Nightly
