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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/30/chris-bowen-warns-global-heating-will-fuel-political-instability-in-annual-climate-statement>
"The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, will declare runaway global heating
remains a national security threat and predict that countries vulnerable to sea
level rise will look to Australia to provide “mobility with dignity” as the
climate crisis deepens.
Bowen will tell parliament on Thursday that extreme weather events caused by
climate change will also place increased strain on Australia’s energy networks,
warning “this fragility could be used by hostile actors”.
The government has refused to release a secret report from the Office of
National Intelligence on how the climate crisis will fuel national security
threats. But Bowen will highlight national and regional security risks in his
annual climate statement on Thursday, arguing it will help fuel further global
“political instability”.
The Albanese government is required under legislation to make a statement to
parliament about progress towards achieving Australia’s emissions reduction
targets, and also report on relevant international developments.
An independent assessment of progress by the Climate Change Authority will also
be tabled in parliament on Thursday, as will updated emissions projections
covering its first full year in office. A snapshot of emissions projections
released by Bowen last weekend suggests Australia will likely cut its CO2
pollution to 42% below 2005 levels by 2030 – which is nearly in line with the
government’s 43% reduction target.
Bowen will tell parliament on Thursday climate change presents “serious risks”
to Australia and poses an “existential national security risk to our Pacific
partners”. The minister will note security risks intensify “the further warming
targets are exceeded”.
Bowen will warn the relationship between the level of warming and the security
threats faced is not linear because threats “compound and expand exponentially
the hotter the planet becomes”. Climate change will likely “accentuate economic
factors already fuelling political instability, including risks to water
insecurity across the globe”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
