It seems that despite this warning (Shane Wright, The Age August 21) and a cascade of others supported by dramatic evidence of global warming and climate change (extreme weather, firestorms, loss of biodiversity and species loss), the impact this is having on communities and their ability to maintain a liveable existence, the need for radical change in city and transport planning continues to fall on deaf ears.
Mitigation efforts to-date and planned for the future remain superficial and will barely make a difference and the loss of Australia’s triple A rating by the end of the decade will be the least of our concerns.
It should be obvious to a growing number of people that the rate of change is increasing and turning this situation around is mission impossible. Whilst it is still possible to slow the warming process humanity has no choice but to adapt and the sooner governments at all levels start planning accordingly the better for everyone.
There is no use pretending that electric cars, solar and other forms of “green” energy and technology will solve our problems. They have made little difference to-date and emissions are still rising at an exponential rate. Smart use of technology will help if it facilitates behavioural change but will not stop the warming process and in this respect Australia is particularly vulnerable.
As we have noted on numerous occasions, adaption will require a radical change in behaviour supported by very different expectations and aspirations to those that exist today and choices made in the future.
Humanity will be forced to use/consume less of everything – including travel and operate within an economy in which growth rapidly becomes negative and supports fewer and fewer people. In some parts of the world this is already happening but the scale will rapidly increase. These conclusions were very clear decades ago, and reflected in the Club of Rome’s first report on Limits to Growth in 1972 even before concerns of global warming were factored in.
TfM has presented numerous strategies since it was established more than ten years ago to respond to this challenge. All we can do now is repeat them, encourage government to listen, take them seriously and act accordingly. The problem is not cost but lack of will and mindset to make the commitment.