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| Former Melbourne Age, science writer, Jo Chandler. |
Jo Chandler doesn’t believe in climate change, but she does
believe in science.
The implication of that observation for the former science
writer at the Melbourne Age is that the science of climatology illustrates
conclusively that humans have changed the world’s weather patterns.
Ms Chandler, who only took voluntary redundancy at The Age last
month, was one of two speakers at the University of Melbourne’s “A conversation
on the climate crisis”.
Her fellow speaker at the seminar was the author of the Garnaut
Climate Change Review, Professor Ross Garnaut. His 2008 report was then presented
to the Australian Government and updated last year.
Ms Chandler told the more than 100 people who joined the
conversation that family and friends often asked her why she believed in
climate change.
She said she doesn’t, rather she believes in the clear,
unambiguous and evidence-based findings of science that illustrate the reality
of the changes we have made to our atmosphere.
Professor Ross Garnaut, who presented his review to the then
Australian Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd, came to the recent conversation with
an unparalleled understanding of the economic impact of climate change on
Australia.
Prof Garnaut appears a naturally conservative fellow and
even when exploring the most damning scenarios of our changing climate, talks
in a kindly way and seems to avoid observations the might “scare the horses”.
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| Ross Garnaut. |
Despite that, Prof Garnaut was unable to avoid the facts;
facts that point to a certain two degree rise in earth’s temperature (we are at
less than one degree at the moment) and explore realities suggesting even the
two degree number is conservative.
Leaving the seminar feeling somewhat euphoric about having
been a part of reasoned and respectful conversation about a crisis not yet
understood, I walked straight into a Melbourne that is what it is because of
business as usual, a paradigm that underpins our changing climate.
The dichotomy was evident; some understand, recognise and
want action on the crisis, but even within that mindset there appears to be a
reluctance to let go of the good life.
That made me think of Homer Simpson, who in trying to pilfer
a soft drink from a dispenser, became trapped and after significant effort it
was realized that if he loosened his grip on the can, his hand could slide
free.
Humanity is locked in the “Homer Simpson paradigm” and until
we are prepared to let go of our lavish life-style, scale it back and accept a
simpler life we, like that cartoon hero, will remain trapped, and doomed to
difficult times.
I stand with Jo Chandler and, like her, embrace science and
align myself with the likes of Ross Garnaut enjoying his respectfulness and
kindly behaviour.
