A choice for voters on climate change

Food insecurity caused by climate change is the elephant in the room in this election.

Neither of the two major parties have taken real effective action on climate change during their terms in power.

What the two major parties are sidelining is that climate change is a food security, economic security and national security issue of urgent importance.

The CIA is presenting this point of view in a recent report on national security and climate change.

Instead of facing this issue, for which there was a citizens' mandate at the last election, all parties except the Greens are more or less sidelining it during their campaigns.

Protracted droughts caused by the highest average temperatures on record, have already increased the price of food and reduced water supplies in Australia - but this is not enough to make politicians act decisively.

This and future food price hikes will dwarf any temporary increase in electricity costs due to a carbon price, but the parties don't have the fortitude to introduce one soon.

Any electricity price hike is likely to be temporary and go down again as technology improves and low income families could be compensated by an increase in pensions.

It would be lovely if the problem would just go away, but the only way that it will is to face it.

Force politicians at this election to put an immediate price on carbon and re-afforest Australia.

Australia's vast land mass could make a major contribution to the world as a carbon sink.

Everyone by now really knows what we have to do.

Progressive businesses all over Australia are demanding the government take action on a carbon price so that they can adapt early and produce the new technology, jobs and industries of the future.

As long as any future government hasn't decided on the immediate introduction of a meaningful carbon price or an opposition doesn't really believe in the science of climate change, there will be uncertainty in regard to investment and job decisions.

The choice for voters and businesses is between security, science and certainty, or insecurity, high costs, hocus pocus and uncertainty.

With the introduction of the 85% ethanol (cheaper than petrol) fuel for a specially-designed new Holden Commodore, even Caltex and Holden have shown it's not that hard to adapt.

The politicians just need to follow, if they don't want to lead

We do not have to ruin our beautiful Central Coast with coal mines near Wyong or gas plants near Wamberal.

Previous fossil fuel companies can make the switch to clean fuels and new technology of the future if voters make politicians provide the framework.

Email, 4 Aug 2010 Karin Solondz, Woy Woy