While Abbott is steadily slashing clean energy and environmental groups, and opening up our national parks to polluters, the rest of the world is really starting to get on board with clean energy and energy efficiency. And with good reason…

It’s cost effective

The (quite conservative) International Energy Agency (IEA) says introducing solar and wind to our power system would introduce very little extra cost, and may, in fact, reduce electricity bills.

It’s profitable

As for energy efficiency, retrofits carried out in 16 cities across 8 Southeast US states from 2010-2013 created a 387% return on investment (ROI)!

It’s seriously necessary

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim have all called on countries and business to take the threats posed by global warming more seriously. Sadly, for Australia, Tony Abbott thinks climate change is “absolute crap”!

Even the US is pressuring us!

The US is pushing for climate change to be an important agenda item when Australia hosts world leaders at the Group of 20 meeting this year, placing Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a potentially awkward position that conflicts with his domestic political agenda.

Europe is making us look like idiots

Europe is targeting 40% by 2030 and studies show that the EU’s emissions are likely to be 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. Australia, by contrast, is targeting 5% by 2020 because Abbott claims there’s no serious commitment around the world!

We have just 3 weeks’ supply of petrol

Australia is almost entirely dependent on overseas fuel, and would run out of petrol in just three weeks if imports were interrupted.

Fossil fuels are dangerous

Even if you don’t believe the vast majority of scientists who say humans are causing devastating client change, you have to acknowledge that there’s only so much fossil fuel in the ground. You also have to admit that getting it out of the ground is dangerous – both our health and our environment.

So why do successive governments ignore it?

Could it be that mining is a big industry in Australia, and the mining magnates make it worth our politicians’ while to turn a blind eye to reality? Yes, I’m talking about political donations, bribery, jobs for the boys and so on. I certainly can’t think of any other reason…