The Greens should be Hot Favourites!

A response to Hot Issue can’t be ignored, Peter Boyer, Mercury, March 12 With Hobart’s temperature on Tuesday reaching 16% above average, Climate Change is the hot issue. It is timely to remind Tasmanians that when it comes to voting at the next Federal and State elections there are two urgent issues that should inform our decision making.

First is the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions so we don’t exacerbate Climate Change. The second is the need for real Government action to prepare our homes, farms, crops, public buildings, emergency services, water supply, communication systems and transport for more frequent extreme weather events in the coming years.

Extreme floods, cyclones, droughts and bush fires occurred across Australia this past year with 123 weather records broken. Unless carbon emissions are reduced now, extreme weather events will increase in frequency and severity here and all around the world.

Australian families, farmers, businesses, insurance companies and local, state and federal governments suffered huge losses due to extreme weather events this year.

Our State Government (like most other States) will have to cut spending in this year’s budget because of the high costs incurred fighting this year’s bush fires and responding to the aftermath. What will be the cost for Tasmania and Australia be next year?

Tasmanian needs at every level of government, representatives who can be trusted to tackle Climate Change, plan for adaptation and steer us towards a sustainable future – For this “Hot Issue” the Greens should be Hot favourites.