Australians’ Viewpoints on Climate Change Reveal an Important Characteristic of Humankind
The future always looks like the past—until it looks like something else altogether. That’s a good thing to keep in mind, as it’s a reassuring reminder of how quickly things change, and how grossly inaccurate most trend analyses almost always turn out to be when they predict long, slow, and linear change.
Here’s a radical shift you may not have noticed: the opinion of Australians about climate change. Paradoxically, these brave, life-affirming chaps had elected fossil fuel puppet and thus climate change denier Tony Abbott in 2013, who succeeded, for a time, in stultifying the public consciousness. But only a year after Abbott was removed, the number of Australians who say they’re concerned about global warming has been shooting through the roof; it’s gone from about 50% to about 75% in the blink of an eye.
Yes, certain old ways of thinking may look like they’ll never change—but when they move, they often do it big, hard, and fast.
Many of the posters on bravenewclimate.com are in Australia. For that and other reasons, I suggest following it.
It also seems often that natural disasters drive global warming opinion and Australia seems particularly vulnerable to a warming world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_global_warming_on_Australia
What a bizarrely inaccurate portrayal of Australian politics, and Tony Abbott.
Describing Tony Abbott as a “fossil fuel puppet” is absurd ! Australian politics simply don’t work that way. Abbott was toppled as PM by a combination of internecine political factions within his own party. He was not rejected by the electorate.
The incoming PM, Malcolm Turnbull has not altered or proposed any changes to the policies pursued by Tony Abbott. Only the style, not the substance, has changed.
The only important issues concerning the Australian electorate as they vote this weekend are economic, and tax reform. Environmental issues have been marginalized by both major political parties, and barely mentioned.
The conservative government is expected to be returned to office, and Australians remain comfortably ambivalent toward “green” issues.
Australians are not concerned with global warming, but generally support the environment as long as it doesn’t cost them anything or they’re not required to do anything.
I’m afraid Australians regard environmental issues a bit like an Elephant, they’re all in favour and like Elephants, but don’t actually want to own one !
Whatever. But you have to admit that it’s a bizarre coincidence that after the Abbott (climate change denying) years, Australians’ concern re: global warming went through the roof.