Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Applying pressure on new Prime Minister Turnbull for climate action for #Paris2015

September 15, 2015 at 1:17 am John Englart Leave a comment

After a leadership ballot, we have a new prime Minister who does not deny the climate science. The defeat of Abbott will be welcomed due to his climate denial and climate inaction, especially after his laughing response to Peter Dutton’s offensive joke about ‘water lapping at your door’, a reference to sea level rise affecting Pacific Island Nations.

But before you get your hopes up, In a post ballot press conference Prime Minister elect Malcolm Turnbull said “Our Climate policy is very well designed and one I support today.”

Deputy Leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop immediately piped up and said that Australia will stick to current emission reduction targets for the Paris climate talks.

These are exceptionally low targets that have been heavily criticised by scientists and by other developed nations as severely insufficient. Modelling done for the government did show we could move from 26 percent target to 45 percent target on 2005 levels with only a small reduction in our GDP growth of 1 percent.

Does this mean there is wiggle room for Australia’s climate policy at Paris? sure. But it is unlikely to be more than a little wiggle.

Malcolm sold his soul to the moderates and right in the party in the lead up to the first leadership spill in February 2015 not to overturn current Liberal policy on climate. Any change in this area will be slow.

Former US Vice-President and climate campaigner Al Gore was encouraged by the change:

Here is RenewEconomy take on what a Turnbull prime ministership will mean on climate:

And that is where you the reader come in. As much pressure needs to be brought on the Turnbull Government to negotiate in good faith at the Paris climate talks. One of the ways we can apply pressure is through the Peoples Climate mobilisation around Australia, part of a huge global mobilisation.

Preparations are under way to make the Peoplesclimate rally huge. Get in touch to help us in Moreland organise for this event and for our ongoing campaigns to close Hazelwood, increase renewable energy through a Victorian Renewable Energy Target, adapt our cities and build community resilience to more extreme heatwaves. Moreland Council is the first City council to endorse the Peoples climate Rally in November.

Entry filed under: news, rallies & protests. Tags: Malcolm Turnbull.