COMMENT: Action For Climate Change and InterGenerational Equity: Is Sustainability the Elephant in the Room?
T he media coverage that followed a protest by a group of climate activists in Brisbane on 01 February focussed more on the “general overreach” of government in silencing protesters - rather than on understanding activist concerns: Whether “we are acting appropriately or urgently enough on climate change”. Whilst there may be divided public opinion on rights to protest, there should be no dispute that the activist’s concerns drew attention to serious issues related to action for climate change. Australia’s new Climate Change Act 2022 came into force on 15 September 2022. GHG emissions are to be reduced by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050. But the legislation does not as yet provide a national plan on how these targets are to be achieved. In the absence of any national plan for action for climate change, climate activist concerns about what the future holds for our children and grandchildren are real and warrant wider conversation. Concern for future