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Kathryn Crosby As World Environment Day (WED) 2007 approaches, it’s hard to ignore the distinct lack of hype. The day is about action. So where is it?
In years gone by there were full page ads about events and endless stories about why we should all be alert and alarmed by the damage we are doing to our environment. This deathly silence may be a good sign; perhaps climate change has become so mainstream, so accepted as a topic of concern that it no longer has the ‘novelty factor’ going for it. Or maybe we’ve gone past alarmed phase to the overexposed 'whatever' phase. According to the website: ‘The purpose of World Environment Day is to focus worldwide attention on the importance of the environment and stimulate political attention and action. The event seeks to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure that all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.’ The day is about action. So where is it? Maybe there isn’t much hype this year because the theme is melting ice caps. And around here ice isn’t exactly top of mind (unless it is in a glass). Perhaps we’re too obsessed with the upcoming election to notice the upcoming events. It might be that the Government’s indecisiveness regarding climate change and carbon trading, and the much less reported members bill that Peter Garrett MP introduced in to parliament last week to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, have taken all the environmental column space. (And it could just be that I haven’t been exposed to the World Environment Day fun because I’m no longer on a university campus everyday…sigh.) For those who are fired up enough about the environment to want to get out there and participate in World Environment Day a list of events in Australia that have been registered with the UN appears on the World Environment Day website including everything from school events to community barbecues. There are also long term campaigns on Climate change being run by organisations such as GetUp! and ACF that the public can get involved in. Many local groups, schools and universities will acknowledge the day in some way on June 5. The United Nations, World Wildlife Fund and a number of other organisations will be presenting a range of World Environment Day awards. As another nod to how mainstream environmental concerns have become, many of the awards to be presented are for businesses who have become environmental activists and ambassadors, making a real difference in the business practices. This was also illustrated by the cover story of the Australian Financial Review’s June Magazine; it does appear that big business in Australia has accepted the reality of climate change, and their role in environmental action. Directors and CEOs of major companies such as ANZ, diversified agribusiness giant Wesfarmers, Origin Energy, aluminium giant Alcoa, KPMG, Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs JB Were, Suncorp, the Commonwealth Bank, insurance group IAG and more are all starting to realise and accept their responsibilities – as people and as corporate leaders — towards the environment. Some businesses and organisatons are getting involved through sponsorship and research, others, including the Uniting Church, are working on reducing their carbon footprint. Some business leaders with real passion are also personally converting other leaders to the idea that it is everyone’s responsibility, and we can do something — right here, right now. Business getting on board is a true sign that Climate Change has become a mainstream issue. But it feels like most people have grasped the idea that we can’t continue with our current ways of living. While around the world Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and the Stern report in to climate change have helped spur on the growth in conversion to the cause of environmentalism, in Australia there has been another inspiration: water. Or more correctly, the lack of it. There’s something about not being able to water the lawn that dramatically gets the attention of the average Australian. Even some people who are very much climate change sceptics have started adding in disclaimers to their “climate change is not an emergency, it’s a normal part of the cycle of the earth” or ‘climate change is a myth’ rhetoric, adding in “that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be a bit more responsible with the amount of pollution we pump out, or the amount of water we waste”. Climate change is no longer a topic being discussed only by students, hippies and scientists — it is the topic for everyone with a garden they want to maintain or a car they want to wash. It’s possible that the long drought means that environmental issues are not so emotive in Australia, as a greater proportion of the population is already aware of the issue. As more and more of the population accepts the reality of climate change, aided by the advice of countless leading scientists, some may feel that we don’t need the big splashy events any more. Of course, when it comes to matters of grave importance if you don’t make a lot of noise and keep it up, if you begin to think everyone has got the message, the message can fall off the radar and soon it fades into the background, no longer a priority as people carry on in their comfort zone. The trouble is, when it comes to climate change, we have no more time to waste on comfort zones. So get out there today, do something — anything — to mark World Environment Day. And spread the word. Better yet make some small personal commitment to taking one more measure toward reducing your contribution to dangerous climate change. The Earth will thank you.
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