11 December 2019
Minister Kean names the elephant on climate and bushfires
The Nature Conservation Council applauds NSW Environment Matt Kean’s public comments acknowledging the obvious link between the bushfire crisis and climate change.
“Mr Kean has had the guts to say what everyone knows to be true,” NCC Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“Strong economic management and national security leadership requires attention to climate change.
“Every credible expert in science, business, international relations, military affairs and economics says so.”
Mr Kean told the Smart Energy Summit in Sydney on Tuesday that "no one can deny" that climate change is to blame for the smoke haze choking Sydney as bushfires burn across NSW.
"Longer drier periods, resulting in more drought and bushfire. If this is not a catalyst for change, then I don't know what is.
"We need to reduce our carbon emissions immediately, and we need to adapt our practices to deal with this kind of weather becoming the new normal. [1]
When asked by ABC Radio National Breakfast’s Hamish Macdonald “Is there a link between climate change and the bushfires we’re seeing at the moment”, Mr Kean said:
"Well look, we’re in the middle of the worst drought in living memory; this is the second hottest year on record in NSW; yesterday’s smoke is causing some of the worst air pollution in Sydney that we have ever seen.
"I mean, this is climate change. If this is not climate change, then what the hell is going to happen when it does hit? [2]
References
[1] 'This is not normal': Minister urges action on climate change, SMH, 11-12-19
[2] 'We have to listen to the science': NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean, ABC, 11-12-19
Tags
Air pollutionClimate and energy
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