At the end of October, addressing the scientific community on the occasion of awarding the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, Scott Morrison had this to say:
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"It's terrific to be with you once again, as part of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science. But while this year is a bit different, what hasn't changed is my determination to honour the work you do on behalf of all Australians.
"You've dedicated your lives to understanding our world in a bid to make it better. You've wrestled with society's and the natural world's biggest challenges.
"And this year, the whole country, including me, has leant on you as we've faced one of the biggest challenges in living memory ..."
I've left off the end of his last sentence. Can you guess what he's talking about?
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And this year, the whole country, including me, has leant on you as we've faced one of the biggest challenges in living memory ...
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Could it be climate change? Alas no. He went on to say "... the COVID-19 pandemic".
Now Australia has done particularly well in the COVID-19 stakes. While we have had our spikes and second waves, the government has listened to and acted on the advice of the scientific community, and as a result we've faired better than a lot of other countries.
Joe Biden has cited the COVID pandemic and climate change as two issues to which he will be paying particular attention, and has flagged getting the USA back into the Paris agreement, and aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as priorities.
This will leave Australia even more isolated as, basically, a climate change denialist state.
Against all scientific advice, Scott Morrison has refused to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, citing the economy and jobs as paramount.
He has said he will not bow to pressure from other countries.
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Boris Johnson recently encouraged Mr Morrison to take "bold action" on climate change and "emphasise the importance of setting ambitious targets to cut emissions and reach net zero".
Our own states have set themselves ambitious targets. But our Federal government still sits on its hands and refuses to consider the many new emerging technologies that can provide base-load power.
If he will listen to the advice of his scientists on climate change, he will help avoid a problem far worse than COVID-19.
David Ashton is a member of Bathurst Community Climate Action Network.
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