Reality check: It's the Keeling curve, stupid

 

Readers, we are not calling anybody stupid, not even our acting prime minister. (You can’t help but be filled with wonder, though, at the heights to which a man of his ability has risen.)

“It’s the economy, stupid” is a famous phrase from Bill Clinton’s election campaign of 1992.  Here in Australia Paul Keating mimicked the sentiment through his tenure as treasurer and then PM during the 1990s.

Time has moved on and a majority of the world’s people, businesses and governments now understand that we are on the brink of climate, ecological and perhaps even societal breakdown. A new phrase for the times might be: “It’s the Keeling Curve, stupid”. (OK, we don’t really expect that to catch on, but we wish it could.)

The Keeling Curve describes the graphical representation of the inexorably rising level of CO2 in our atmosphere.  Despite the pandemic lockdowns, despite the rise of renewable energy, despite personal actions and despite the actions of businesses and governments to date, the trajectory of the curve remains relentlessly upward (and likewise for concentrations of methane).

It is clear (and the most recent IPCC report spells out) that we need to dramatically increase our efforts to curb emissions.  In wealthy developed nations such as Australia, cuts of greater than 50% by 2030 are the bare minimum level of ambition that is required if we  are to flatten this curve.  The Climate Council recommends a 75% cut by 2030 as being appropriate for Australia, given our wealth and our historical contribution to the problem.

And yet our other acting Prime Minister has gone to Glasgow with glossy brochures, an exhibition stand proudly sponsored by Santos and promises to do nothing more whatsoever before 2030.  Our government even disgracefully declined to sign on to a modest pledge by other nations to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.  And his “net zero by 2050” pledge, if you read the glossy brochure, is, in fact, a pledge for 85% reduction by 2050 - the “plan” (said to be co-developed with Santos) relies on as yet non-existent technologies to mitigate or capture the rest.

Our NSW government has commendably raised their bar to 50% by 2030.  Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), on behalf of their member councils, have endorsed this target.  (The Hills Shire Council is not a member.)

But our Liberal-dominated (owned??) council has no target and no plan, has made no comment on the NSW government’s magnified ambition and refuses even to take the most modest step of joining 155 other councils (including ALL our neighbouring councils) in the Cities Power Partnership - an organisation fostering and developing climate action at a local government level through sharing and collaboration.

We must rapidly and dramatically flatten the Keeling Curve if we are to have any chance of avoiding catastrophic consequences for our children and grandchildren.

But, as the linked article says, this curve should not be seen as a thin line on a graph that can be easily bent at a moment’s notice on a whim.  Rather we must see it as a thick curved tree trunk.  Bending this curve will be a monumental feat of herculean proportions, requiring planning, commitment and concerted action by every part of our society, including our local government.  But, in the Hills Shire, our local government, as presently constituted, is not fit for this task.

It is clear that if we are to bend the Keeling Curve here in the Hills, we need new and diverse representation on our council.  This is no time for habitual or tribal political allegiances.

We do not intend to suggest to you who you should vote for.  But, barring some campaign policy reversal between now and December 4, we very probably will have something to say about who you should NOT vote for.

More information:

This blog and our Facebook page and our administrators are not affiliated with any party or candidate standing in The Hills Shire Council elections in 2021.  Nor do we receive funding from any individual, party, institution or corporation.  Our very constrained expenditures are financed by the page administrators themselves acting in a personal capacity.  Our only interest is in a safe climate for current and  future residents of the Hills Shire.

Email: climate.matters.hills.2021@gmail.com

Message: m.me/ClimateMattersHills2021

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