Trevor A Scott, Castlemaine
Climate science warns us that the Earth is gradually warming and rainfall is decreasing.
The recently released report from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) advises us that if pollution levels continue to rise at the current rate (i.e. a business-as-usual scenario), human-driven warming of the planet will exceed 1.5 degrees C between 2030 and 2050. The Australian government has committed to reduce our greenhouse gas pollution levels by 26-28 per cent by 2030 (based on 2005 levels). And we are not even on track to achieve this woefully inadequate target! Worse still, emissions that were expected to have peaked, have actually risen, and the chances of reaching the ambitious targets set in Paris in 2015, are very small.
The news for Bendigo is not much better. By 2030, based on the above business-as-usual scenario, average temperatures will rise by 1.5 degrees C and rainfall will decrease by 15 per cent. Unless we take action very soon, growing crops or pasture for grazing animals will become extremely difficult; and costs will spiral out of control. The drought in Northern NSW has had some temporary relief with a few rainfalls; but continues and is so severe that it is predicted that food prices will rise in the very near future.
The state election is looming. Please use your vote wisely and vote for a party that will take action on this very serious issue of Climate Change.
