Tamworth’s Dr Robin Gunning has something to say in regard to a recent letter questioning her stand on climate change.
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In reply to J Brissett’s somewhat insulting response (NDL, May 21) to my letter (taking Barnaby to task for not mentioning climate change as an issue for New England: NDL, May 17), I’d like to make the observation that Mr Brissett appears to have fallen hook, line and sinker for the Media Watch pedantry on 400ppm carbon dioxide level.
On May 10, the atmospheric carbon dioxide, measured at Cape Grimm, shot over 400ppm and is continuing to rise (CSIRO).
Humans have now increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by around 120pmm since the industrial revolution and because of that, we are looking at a five-degree temperature rise by the end of the century in Australia (Bureau of Meteorology).
In New England, while farmers and other thinking people have very little doubt about the reality of
climate change, there are others who wish to cast doubt in an attempt to inhibit action on climate change.
Common tactics used by these climate deniers are red herrings (red herrings are pieces of information intended to be misleading or distracting).
Mr Brissett’s argument that 400ppm is just a number and therefore doesn’t mean anything is a prime red herring.
It presumably means that Mr Brisset feels that he can ignore climate change and keep his head firmly planted into the nice warm (and getting warmer) sand.
On the 10th anniversary of the release of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, it is time that we all faced up to the facts that our world is getting hotter, our climate is becoming more extreme and that we need to do something about it.
I have worked on this issue consistently for over a decade in and out of election cycles.
The one purpose that elections serve is to remind politicians of the things that are important to the people they represent.
The things that are often missed in the climate change story are that there are tremendous opportunities for New England in solutions like renewable energy and better land management.
I’m sure that it’s something that we can all agree on.
On Sunday, June 5, there will be an election climate rally in Bicentennial Park, Tamworth at noon.
Speakers include The Young Australian Farmer of the Year and our New England candidates.
I urge all readers to come along and hear about the local opportunities that exist in climate change solutions.
