To all the birders who have responded (or not!) to postings about the WWF's
statements about climate change (I prefer to call it climate damage) and its
effects on birds.
I've just sent this to the PM.
Michael Norris
Melbourne
Dear Mr Howard
"Birding-Aus" is a mailing list which connects many of the leaders of bird
conservation in Australia. We recently received a posting summarising the
World Wildlife Foundation's findings on the current and predicted effects of
climate change.
I've just sent this to the list.
Being a humble politician - a local Councillor for the City of Bayside in
Melbourne - myself, I beg you all to find the positive things going on in
relation to climate damage and environmental degredation and back them using
every means you have.
We pollies are subject to all sorts of pressures (most of all from our
friends)
OK John Howard has recently publicly discovered carbon trading, 3 years
after David Kemp, the then Environment Minister, encouraged him to say
publicly that humanity needs to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (don't
forget the methane!) by 60%.
OK it is taking time for people to realise that the weed threat to our
environment is still growing (literally) and that climate change will
increase threats of invasions by exotic weeds (and insects like the Denge
fever mosquito).
OK some species will DIE if their habitat disappears. Alpine and other
isolated creatures will have (along with the ski industry) have nowhere to
go.
OK the leading companies, the ACF and others have told us that mitigation
efforts will cost us around 1% p.a. of growth.
OK Australia could have profited from solar energy devices.
BUT we have firms on the Stock Exchange and States who have prepared for
carbon trading (don't know about the methane!)
BUT the Federal Government has recognised the weed threat and AQIS is doing
more than it did.
BUT corridors to enable a greater migration of species in response to
climate change are being planned and implemented.
BUT companies and others, including my Council, are spending money on
reducing emissions with that great movement ICLEI showing us the way.
BUT CSIRO has invented new products for photo-voltaic solar collection and
major projects to use that sort of technology are now funded.
What people like me want the Government to do is to build on its
iititiatives but most of all STOP INTERPRETING AUSTRALIA'S INTERESTS IN
NARROW TERMS.
Australia, above almost all nations, has benefited from global efforts to
prevent ozone depletion.
WE SHOULD DO OUR SHARE IN RELATION TO CLIMATE DAMAGE.
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www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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