Hello Environmentality listeners,
After some technical difficulties, we finally got into
contact with Cam Walker from Friends of the Earth. Friends of the Earth is a membership
based organization that engages in environmental issues. Friends of the Earth
integrate human rights with environmental issue to try to achieve good outcomes
for both the community and environment. Active around the world, Friends of the
earth has groups in more than 70 countries. We chatted to Cam about climate
change refugees, the east-west tunnel and wind power politics.
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| Courtesy of Friends of the Earth |
The current UN convention for refugee classifies refugees as
people affected by War. However the Friends of the Earth believe that there is
another category of refugees the convention overlooks; people forced from their
homes due to climate change. Many of the climate change refugee comes from low
lying countries and islands that are particular vulnerable to any changes to
their climate due to their on agriculture and fishing industries. Furthermore,
many of these countries also do not have the resources to adapt to the impacts
of climate change. “They are in the front line"; it will be the some of the poorest
people in the world that will be greatly impacted. The majority of global warming
created by rich nations, and as such it is this carbon debt that is causing the
problem. Hence it is reasonable that developed nations accept their responsibilities
and start planning for climate change refugees. Rather than rewriting the
current UN refugee convention, Cam highlights that a new agreement should be
created.
With the Chinese shift towards renewable energies and
Obama’s recent statement about climate change, is it possible that there is a
global shift towards global collaborative climate change action? It may be too
early to say at the moment, but signs are definitely hopeful. With China and
the US taking a stronger position on climate change, is it likely that other
nations will now be willing to take action?
We quickly also chatted to Cam about the east-west tunnel. Money
should be invested into improving public transport and supporting people
reliance on public transport. To read Kenneth Davidson’s article that was
mentioned on the show, click here. Cam
shares Environmentalities sentiment about the lack of government supporting wind power; the current state government’s laws
excluding wind energy and preference for coal over renewable energies.
Don't forget to listen to the podcast!
Some Tracks played
The Rubens- Don’t Ever Want to be Found
David Bridie- Wake
Mark Moroney- Circles
Major Chord- Everything is Everything
Cat Empire- Steal the light
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