Youth climate organisations have hit back at Peter Dutton’s refusal to acknowledge the worsening impacts of climate change during last night’s federal election debate.
When asked if the impacts of climate change were getting worse, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton responded: “I’ll let scientists pass that judgment. I don’t know because I’m not a scientist and I can’t tell you whether the temperature has risen in Thargomindah because of climate change or the water levels are up.”
In response, young people from AYCC, the Duty of Care Campaign, Rising Tide and Youth Rising, Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, and Tomorrow Movement are calling Dutton’s remarks out as dangerously out of touch.
“Scientists have passed that judgement, and we’re living it,” said Des, Tomorrow Movement’s National Director “Communities all across the continent are facing record heat, floods, fires and droughts. For youth and First Nations communities, climate inaction represents an existential risk to our future and survival.”
“I’m 26 and I’ve lived through 6 floods, fires and too many major power-cutting storms to count. And yet, the government continues to ignore the climate crisis.” said Phoebe, from Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network. “There is no future where the climate is healed and communities are thriving, without First Nations peoples and communities leading the way. “
“We are well past the time for speculation about the existence of climate change,” said Anjali, founder of the Duty of Care Campaign. “The conversation now needs to be about how we protect our current and future generations from the inevitable impacts of increasing climate disaster. Anything less than that is disingenuous to this country’s young people.”
“My multicultural community in Western Sydney has lived through the stifling impacts of consecutive record-breaking extreme heat events, bushfires, and floods – and that’s just in the last 5 years. The audacity of the Opposition Leader’s refusal to acknowledge the climate impacts that communities on the ground have been living is unacceptable, and adds insult to injury for our generation and those to come.” said Grace from AYCC.
The youth movement is demanding:
- A just transition that centres First Nations leadership
- Climate action that protects people and Country – not profit
- Real leadership that puts community and care before corporate profits
With the federal election heating up, youth climate groups are urging voters – especially young people – to hold politicians accountable and vote for politicians who are serious about the climate crisis.
“We’re sick of weak leaders who say they ‘don’t know’ – we need leaders who listen, act, and put the future first,” Des said.
“Young people will not watch as our futures are incinerated. We’re mobilised, we’re organising, and we’re voting for climate justice.”
