Talking Climate Change
Over recent months, I’ve enjoyed engaging with local voters about the issue of climate change. I’ve held two community forums* specifically on the issue of climate change. My regular mobile offices bring the conversation to you – whether you’re in Dickson or Belconnen, Civic or Charnwood. This week, I sent a postcard out to all the whole electorate asking for people’s views, and am enjoying reading through the first batch of responses. Today, I was out with my team doorknocking the suburbs of Gungahlin, discussing the issue face-to-face with local residents.
Overall, the message has been positive. In a soundbite era, my sense is that many people are looking for a style of politics that allows us to get past fear-mongering and slogans, dismiss the common myths about carbon pricing, and talk about the optimistic low-carbon future that is the goal of the package.
If you’ve got views on climate change and putting a price on carbon pollution, I’d love to hear from you. Give me a call (6247 4396), drop me an email (andrew.leigh.mp at aph.gov.au), or come along to one of my community events. For example, on Saturday 27 August, I’ll be holding my third community forum that’s specifically focused on climate change. The venue is Majura Hall, Rosevear St, Dickson, and it’ll run from 10-11.30am.
I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Update: Here’s a video wrapping up the forum.
Yes, I support a price on carbon pollution, but…
I would like to see other incentives for the big polluters to change (unless I’ve misunderstood). Perhaps there could be tax incentives, in the form of reductions, where those companies demonstrate that they are developing or investing in the development of new technologies. So have a stick and carrot approach.
I think there could also be a partial refocus of the debate from simply being about carbon pollution to reducing/removing dependence on oil rich countries and becoming producers of new forms of energy. I remember in high school many years ago discussion of nuclear fission versus nuclear fusion and what we’d all be doing with our spare time. I’ve never understood why Australia isn’t a leader in solar and these other forms of energy.
Scott, we’re certainly funding investment in renewables (including in some of the world-leading ANU solar researchers in my own electorate). But in general, you should think of a carbon price as both stick and carrot. Putting a price on carbon encourages renewables firms, because it guarantees that clean tech will have an economic advantage (this is also why we have a floor price once we move to the ETS).