0
0
Whether its a statement from a bushfire survivor or the latest opinion poll, record high August temperatures combined with high winds, have left the community screaming for more climate action from our leaders.
It used to be a slow news day when the weather was the main story – or it meant a relatively rare major disaster had occurred somewhere but, increasingly, extreme weather is leading the daily bulletin and community calls for climate action are growing.
Jo Dodds, President of the Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, released a heartfelt statement on August 28 while an opinion poll released in Queensland reported on growing fears that the capital, Brisbane, could become unliveable.
“In southern, coastal NSW we are currently experiencing the hottest winter’s day I have ever felt,” said Jo Dodds.
“A blistering, swirling wind is tearing leaves and branches from trees and stripping moisture from everything. It’s not even noon and my phone is pinging with alerts about fires in eight locations nearby. It’s also pinging with messages from friends who are as perturbed by this day as I am,” she said.
“My household has done what we can to protect our home. We’ve invested in a dedicated fire-fighting unit with a mobile pump, hoses and water carrier. We’ve managed all nearby vegetation. Our gutters are clean and our tanks are full. None of this earns us a discount on our home insurance however, which has risen by over 100% in just two years. That’s right, it’s DOUBLED.
“And the risk of my home and thousands more burning down, is escalating every single day. Today, in winter, could be that day.
“While I watch the sky for smoke I check the Hazards Near Me app and touch base with neighbours – several of whom are sitting in homes rebuilt since losing them in the Tathra District Fire of 2018 and the Black Summer Fires of 2019/20. Like me, they’re anxious and they’re angry.
“Like my home insurance bill, our distress around the threats of this particular day is doubled thanks to the catastrophic lack of action from our government to keep us safe.
“As fast as we work to secure our homes from climate damage, our Environment Minister keeps approving more fossil fuel projects. It’s a race that we, the people, are losing.
“Here, in regional NSW we are already stretched to breaking point. Regional economies are driven by the sweat and toil of regional people, and the thought of another season of bushfires, floods and storms, all driven faster, more frequent, more destructive, by emissions from the fossil fuel sector, is more than we can take. If we are spending our time and energy preparing for, or fighting, or mopping up our losses after fires – we are not working – there’s zero income. Coal and gas mines however, chug along unperturbed, making profits, contributing only more misery for us.
“We tried fighting them in the courts and although we won a stronger NSW EPA, we lost against the megalith Whitehaven over their Narrabri coal mine expansion. We spent weeks, months, years meeting with our political representatives asking them to intervene and lower fossil fuel emissions. But we’re still to see legislation implemented to urgently lower overall carbon emissions let alone methane from the mining process itself.
“Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, will consider approvals on the enormous Narrabri and Mount Pleasant coal mines within a couple of weeks.
“I hope my house is still standing by then, hers too. Either way, there will be thousands of us, anxiously waiting for her decision, watching the horizon, and planning for the coming federal election,” Dodds said.
Meanwhile in Queensland
A new poll commissioned by the Queensland Conservation Council has found the majority of Queenslanders, 57 per cent, agree we need to quickly bring online more renewable energy to prevent energy supply shortfalls and bring down power prices.
This comes as Queensland suffers through a scorching end of winter heatwave that could result in bill shock for consumers switching on air conditioning.
The poll of more than 2,000 Queensland residents, shows the majority of Queensland voters, 54 per cent, want the Queensland LNP to support the state’s existing renewable energy targets.
In April, the Queensland Parliament legislated renewable energy targets of 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035. The Queensland Opposition voted against legislating the renewable energy targets and does not currently have an energy plan despite public support for clean and cheap energy.
Queensland Conservation Council campaigner and energy expert Stephanie Gray said: “This end of winter heatwave is a terrifying look at Queensland’s future as climate change intensifies, and unfortunately, when the heat goes up so does our electricity usage.
“This polling proves Queenslanders understand that energy policy certainty is vital for encouraging investment, slashing power bills, and unlocking new local manufacturing industries.
“If the Queensland LNP is serious about addressing climate change and cutting power bills then they need a plan to reach Queensland’s renewable energy targets and drive new clean energy supply.
“Energy policy uncertainty causes planning delays and leads to worse outcomes for regional communities, our climate and consumers.”
The polling found that 57 per cent of Queenslanders agree the current renewable energy targets should be maintained to encourage investment in clean energy, with 52 per cent in agreement that the targets will help establish new clean manufacturing industries.
QCC looks forward to hearing from the Premier and Opposition Leader on their plans to accelerate Queensland’s renewable energy transition when they address members of the public at the Queensland Community Alliance’s Maroonprint Assembly on September 3rd.
Brisbane-based environmental science student Lauren Shead had to get another flatmate in to help share costs due to the pressures of the rising cost of living. She can’t afford more energy bill spikes and is wary of turning on the air con this summer. She wants to see support for renters to get access to cheaper, cleaner electricity.
“Our electricity bill doubled last summer and we can’t afford to run our air con all the time, but this summer looks like it will be even hotter,” said Lauren Shead.
“Renewable energy is cheaper to build than any coal fired power station, it’s cheaper to run, it uses free energy as its source and it doesn’t contribute to further warming up our summers.
“We shouldn’t be using any coal to power our air con.
“We shouldn’t be using coal power for energy when Queensland is probably the state that will suffer the most from a warmer climate.
“I’m worried that Brisbane could become unlivable.
“If the cost of energy doesn’t come down and summers keep getting worse, it will really restrict how much money I have left for enjoying my free time, and I don’t look forward to that kind of summer without air con to manage it.
“If the government could create some policy to make it easy for renters to get solar panels on their roof that would make a huge difference. I can’t afford to buy where I am, but why does that mean that I should miss out on having access to renewable energy?”
Smart Energy Council Chief Executive John Grimes said: “Queensland households are doing so much of the heavy lifting in the shift to cheaper, cleaner renewable energy.”
“More solar and batteries in Queensland homes is a no brainer when it comes to helping people slash their power bills.
“Supporting people to make the switch to renewable energy shouldn’t be a political issue, it’s an economic issue.
“Australia’s renewable energy businesses need certainty so they can continue employing the workforce that’s powering the state into the future.”
Key poll statistics
- The majority (57%) agree we need to bring more renewables online quickly to prevent supply shortfalls and bring down power prices, including 53% of regional Queenslanders.
- 54% support Queensland’s current renewable energy targets or think they should be set higher, with 14% unsure. Those over 54 are more likely to say we shouldn’t have renewable energy targets at all (24%) compared to 18-25 year olds (5%).
- More regional Queenslanders support the current renewable energy targets or think they should be set higher (49%) compared to those that think they should be lower or non-existent (36%).
- 54% agree that all major political parties should support the current renewables targets or campaign for higher ones, with 22% saying they don’t know.
- 57% agree the current renewable energy targets should be maintained to encourage investment in clean energy, with 23% saying they don’t know.
- 52% agree that maintaining the current renewable energy targets will help establish new clean manufacturing industries in Queensland, with 29% unsure. The largest share (49%) of regional Queenslanders agree whereas 30% don’t know.
Polling commissioned by Queensland Conservation Council and conducted by DemosAU between 1 and 7 August 2024. Polling was based on a sample of 2,221 Queensland adults aged 18+ who are eligible and intending to vote at the upcoming October 2024 State Election.
