How good is Australia?

To help make it even better, here are a few suggestions:

SUGGESTION ONE: UNITY IN CRISIS

We suggest a Government of National Unity for the duration of the present Climate Crisis, with politicians from all parties working together in a Unity Government, representing the will of the nation. It will be Australians – together – and Australia’s leaders – together – who will nut this out.

We suggest this Government of National Unity could endure through several electoral cycles. The faces around the table may change, but the goal of the National Unity Government – victory! – will never waver. 

We suggest this Unity Government focus on three primary goals:

1. Developing effective responses to the Climate Crisis;
2. Remediating the effects of the Climate Crisis;
3. Decarbonisation of the Australian economy.

SUGGESTION TWO: DECARBONISATION

We suggest Australia rapidly move towards a decarbonised economy, with a goal of 90% less carbon output by 2030. A decade provides enough runway for the Unity Government to institute the massive structural changes – toward renewables, electric vehicles, and agricultural sustainability – that make this goal achievable. 

It only took nine years to send humans to the moon. Next to that, ten years to decarbonise Australia looks easy as.

SUGGESTION THREE: INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

We suggest Australia take a leading role in finding solutions to the Climate Crisis. To do this, we suggest that Australia immediately move to convene a permanent global summit on the Climate Crisis, as the annual meetings have proven to be insufficient for the demands of the Climate Crisis.

Provided the nation proves its commitment to decarbonisation and a whole-of-nation response to the Climate Crisis, we suggest that as a sign of its leadership, this Climate Crisis summit can make its permanent home in Australia. We’ll have to earn this.

SUGGESTION FOUR: COUNCIL OF ADVISORS

We suggest the Unity Government convene and accept the advice of a council of advisers on the Climate Crisis, to be staffed by experts in all relevant disciplines, and empaneled for the duration of the Climate Crisis. The government and the nation need our best minds focused on this.

SUGGESTION FIVE: REFLECT, CELEBRATE, AFFIRM

We suggest that Australia celebrates its commitment with a new holiday, PERIHELIA. Named after the days (3 – 5 January) when the Earth’s orbit most closely approaches the Sun, it offers ample opportunity to reflect on our failures, congratulate ourselves on our accomplishments, and look with hope and growing confidence on the road ahead.

Day One – Truth and reconciliation; the facts about our climate, our carbon, where we fell short of our goals – and why.

Day Two (public holiday) – Congratulations and celebrations of Australia’s successes in meeting or exceeding the challenges presented by the Climate Crisis. Awarding of AOEMs – Australian Order of Environmental Merit – for those individuals whose actions demonstrated exceptional commitment.

Day Three – Public promises and commitments made for the coming year by government and business leaders, by local communities, by families and individuals, and a revision of goals – ever upward!

BLOODY GOOD

And how bloody good will it feel when we know that Australia is punching above its weight in saving the planet?

Mark Pesce / Perihelia 2020

Update on 7 January 2020 with some suggestions from readers of “The Suggestion Box” (my responses in italics)

DS writes: