MEDIA RELEASE – 8 October 2018 – Friends of the Earth
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its highly-anticipated Special Report into the impacts of 1.5 degrees global warming.
The report finds climate change is already impacting communities around the world through increased severity of flooding, storms, drought and heatwaves, and that radical action is required to limit warming to well-below 1.5C.
Friends of the Earth Australia says the report is a stark wake-up call on climate change and reaffirms that all governments must undertake immediate, transformative action on climate or risk catastrophic impacts.
The Federal Coalition’s failure to address climate change leaves communities exposed to impacts.
“The Coalition’s head-in-the-sand approach to climate change exposes communities to intensifying impacts such as heatwaves, droughts, bushfires, and extreme weather,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s climate change spokesperson.
“Now’s the time for governments to double their efforts and get serious about delivering emissions cuts. We have no time to waste on climate action.”
Friends of the Earth say it is time for all levels of government to build on the efforts of communities when it comes to tackling climate change:
“Communities around Australia are taking action on climate change. Millions of households have installed solar power, communities are building their own renewable energy projects and planning for climate impacts,” said Pat Simons, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.
“All levels of government must do a heavier lift than the community when it comes to tackling climate change” added Simons.
The Federal Coalition’s failure to tackle climate change requires greater political leadership from Bill Shorten and the Labor opposition.
“With the Federal Coalition failing to tackle climate change, it’s time for Bill Shorten and the Labor opposition to show political leadership and make climate change a priority,” said Leigh Ewbank
More info at foe.org.au