28/02/2022

(AU ABC) Politicians Rated On Climate Credentials As Environment Is Front And Centre For Voters Of Today And Tomorrow

ABC Central Victoria - Jo Printz

Castlemaine school children striking for action on climate change as part of a previous schoolstrike4climatechange. (Twitter @StrikeClimate)


Key Points
  • Environmental issues and the climate crisis could be major election issues
  • Community environment groups and students want voters to make informed decisions
  • They say understanding candidates' policies and environmental credentials are important
While coronavirus and other global issues may have put the climate crisis on the backburner recently, activists say the upcoming federal election is an opportunity to put the state of the planet back on the agenda. 

Elsie L'Huillier is part of the Bendigo United Climate Challenge Alliance, a group of community members and organisations that rate local political candidates on their environmental position and policies.

"It's a reasonably long tradition now, particularly for environmental groups trying to target the information, to work out what are the things we really need answers to," she said.

"Instead of waiting to go through all the policy guff that comes out, we're asking the hard questions.

"[We're] also setting up some sort of a system whereby you can ask the same questions of everyone and rank them according to those particular topics.

Elsie L’Huillier says the Bendigo United Climate Challenge Alliance is providing information that can be relied upon. (ABC Central Victoria: Jo Printz)
"In terms of the federal government cycles, this will be the first one where there clearly is evidence that the greater majority, not just the majority, believe there is a problem with climate change and that we need better legislation around how we're protecting the environment."

Ms L'Huillier believes the group is providing information people in the community can trust.

"It's come from fellow locals; they can eyeball us and go what's the basis for that?" she said.

Climate at the forefront of young voices

Harriet O'Shea Carre, a 17-year-old student activist from Castlemaine isn't yet old enough to vote but that hasn't stopped her from holding politicians to account on climate change.

One of the founding members of the School Strike for Climate movement in Australia, Harriet says it's easy to become complacent, particularly during a pandemic, but every vote really does count.

"One thing about this pandemic is that it's shown us ... when our leaders are committed to making changes and protecting society, we can take really urgent action, which is what is necessary with climate change."
"We really need policies that are moving towards 100 per cent renewable energy and prioritising future generations and the planet over profit."
Castlemaine’s Harriet O’Shea Carre (centre) with School Strike for Climate in Australia co-founders Milou Albrecht (left) and Callum Neilson Bridgfoot (right) at a Melbourne rally in 2021. (Supplied: Harriet O’Shea Carre) 
She said it can be frustrating that some people have that attitude of complacency when there is plenty of information and resources available on the issues we're facing, but they don't take the time and effort to do a little research.

"All votes are important for future generations; it's young people now and in the future who will be inheriting this planet and these policies ... so if you're going into this system thinking you can't make a difference, we're never going to get anywhere."

Euan Ritchie, a professor in wildlife ecology and conservation at Deakin University, knows more than most the imperatives of how we deal with the climate and extinction crisis in the next few years and agrees voters can't be complacent.

"No vote in Australia is ever wasted because we have a preference system; by exercising your values by whoever you choose to vote for, you're absolutely having a really important contribution to the democratic process," Dr Ritchie said

Voters need to ask the tough questions

Dr Ritchie says there's a whole range of questions voters should be asking themselves in trying to gauge the environmental credentials of an aspiring politician or political party.

"We know from reviews around the world that Australia is underspending by a large amount what it should be spending on conserving its threatened species, so how much money is being committed is really important," he said.

Thousands attend climate protests
"The next part of that is whether that money is being targeted on the right things; so planting trees is really important, but it may not conserve some threatened species if it's done in the wrong places."
"We know that the climate and extinction crisis are probably the two big crises that we face globally right now, so they absolutely should be front and centre at the next election."
He added that transparency in political donations and policy alignment were also very important.

"If we have ambitions to restore and conserve the environment, but continue with policies supporting fossil fuels, for example, that is obviously in direct contradiction to conserving the environment," Dr Ritchie said.

He finds it frustrating that these aren't the main issues being discussed or addressed by politicians.

"The environment is our only home — it keeps us alive and happy — and if we take care of the environment, we know it has immense value, whether that's socially, culturally, economically with things like tourism, and of course environmentally.

"So investing in the environment is one of the best things we could possibly do and will come back and pay us off many times over."
"If we don't (take care of the environment) there's going to be really broad-reaching problems both for these species being affected, but also for humanity, whether it's food shortages, or floods or storms, it's going to have a big, negative impact so we need to be addressing it."
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