Pressure on the NSW Government to rein in green house gas emissions must be increased, if today’s announcement of a new climate change adaptation strategy is to have any credibility.
Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen today described Verity Firth’s role in launching the Government’s new ‘Climate Action Plan’ as a “breath of fresh air”.
“While I welcome the new Minister’s energy for the climate change portfolio, I hope her ‘brown’ colleagues in Cabinet aren’t viewing adaptation measures simply as a form of health insurance for the coal fired, chain smoking state of NSW.
“If the new strategy signals a desire to curb emissions, then where is the plan to stop the energy guzzling desalination plant, or to remove subsidies that enable the sale of approximately 24 per cent of the state’s power to the aluminium smelters dirt cheap?
“The Premier cannot have it both ways. There is a clear credibility gap between talking up the need to adapt to the serious impacts of climate change, whilst simultaneously acquiescing to the climate sceptics in the NSW cabinet and building another polluting base load power station.
“The Government has to get serious about reducing emissions overall, if the community is to have faith in the integrity of plans to help our state cope with climate impacts like sea level rise, storm surges and more frequent extreme weather events.
“I welcome the establishment of the ‘NSW Climate Change Council’, but strongly urge the Minister to include a coastal planning expert as this is one area that has been neglected since the Coastal Council of New South Wales was abolished by the Natural Resources Act 2003.
“The new Environment Minister needs to succeed and let’s hope she does; but when push comes to shove, does the Premier have what it takes to support his Minister, to stand up to the likes of Michael Costa and Ian Macdonald?” said Mr Cohen.
No comments:
Post a Comment