Climate concern

ALMOST 100 people attended a public meeting at Wollongong last month to discuss global warming and its affect on the Illawarra.

Speakers and panel members included atmospheric chemist Prof David Griffith, physicist, energy expert Dr George Takacs, architect Jim Keski Nummi, Greens senate candidate Dr John Kaye and federal MP for Cunnigham Sharon Bird.

Meeting organiser Rowan Huxtable said the next step would be to set up a group to continue to highlight the need to combat climate change.

We need to start cutting our greenhouse gas emissions now to reduce the risk of catastrophic consequences.

This means burning less fossil fuel. Mr Huxtable said.

There is scientific consensus about the risk and the urgency.

The NSW government and the federal government have a duty of care to inform the Australian public about the risks of greenhouse gas emissions and to present an honest comparison of all options to the Australian public. This isnt happening at present. The NSW government is opposing nuclear fuel but has not proposed any sensible alternative to continued fossil fuel use Mr Huxrable said.

Neither government has committed to any target to reduce greenhouse emissions. We should follow the lead of Europe and South Australia and commit to the necessary reductions. Mr Huxtable said that a climate change group has already formed in Stanwell Park.