The Eden-Monaro by-election is less than a month away, on July 4, and the issue of climate change is hot in the minds of the region's voters.
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Recent polling of 879 people in the electorate found over half believe the Coalition is not doing enough to tackle climate change after the devastating summer bushfires.
The survey was conducted by uComms on behalf of GetUp, and 59 per cent of people surveyed agreed with the statement that "the government is not doing enough to address climate change".
Also, 59 per cent of people said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported publicly-funded renewable energy projects to create secure, full-time jobs in the local area.
"People in Eden-Monaro see a clear link between leadership on the bushfires and taking action for a safer climate, and it's their top concern," GetUp's national director Paul Oosting said.
Candidates for the Eden-Monaro by-election were contacted for their policies on the issue.
Several did not directly answer in affirmative or negative to the question "are humans responsible for the current rapid increase of global warming", but Joy Angel, Cathy Griff and Kristy McBain clearly stated their agreement.
Attempts were also made for comment from the Nationals' Trevor Hicks and the Christian Democratic Party's Narelle Storey.
Responses are presented in alphabetical order by last name.
Joy Angel, Sustainable Australia
"Yes, the relentless growth in human consumption of resources and population is contributing to our many environmental crises, including species extinctions, deforestation, water shortages and climate change.
"To contribute to staying below 1.5 degrees global temperature rise compared to pre-industrial levels, Sustainable Australia Party would support, amongst other things: increased funding for research and development into renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency initiatives; imposing a moratorium on all new coal mines in Australia; imposing a moratorium on all fracking, including for coal seam gas; phasing out fossil fuel subsidies; reducing population growth pressures locally and globally."
Riccardo Bosi, independent
"Climate change 'believing' has become more a cult than a science.
"True 'green' ideology and environmental common sense lies with our farmers, who have a vested interest in protecting the land.
"If government wants to really help, first it should get off the backs of farmers and leave them alone to do what they do best. Second, it should ask farmers what they need to again become the most productive primary industry in the world."
Cathy Griff, the Greens
"Our comprehensive policy includes: net zero or net negative emissions by 2040 at latest; removing all fossil fuel industry subsidies; just transition to a net zero carbon economy; exclusion of all electricity from burning native forests from the RET; increasing community and public ownership of energy production and storage; no new coal, gas mines or oil wells; ensuring international reporting of emissions includes imported emissions; ban on land clearing, logging of native forest and other activities that reduce carbon storage, including threats to kelp forests and sea grass beds."
James Jansson, Science Party
"Scientific evidence shows the changes humans made to Earth's atmosphere results in changes in the atmosphere's ability to absorb heat.
"We have an ambitious target: 800 per cent renewable energy. How is that possible? We already export 700 per cent more coal overseas than we use domestically. We can do the same with renewable energy. We'll install enough renewables to not only power our current needs, but also power new industry. We'll create value-added, environmentally sound, energy-intensive products such as refined ores, rather than shipping raw product overseas. It's better for the environment and the additional capacity will ensure a stable power supply."
Fiona Kotvojs, Liberals
"I believe that our climate is changing, and humans have contributed to that.
"I believe that we must address climate change through three approaches: reducing emissions, building resilience and adaptation. The latest Quarterly Update of Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows that the Government strategy is working, as Australia's emissions are falling. Last year, emissions fell by five million tonnes or almost one per cent. This means we are now nearly 14 per cent below 2005 levels (the baseline for Australia's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement). The best way ahead is by reducing emissions with technology, not taxes.
"We've been able to achieve this positive outcome through numerous initiatives like the $2billion Climate Solutions Fund that supports farmers, landholders and Indigenous communities with land management, energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage."
Kristy McBain, Labor
"If we accept the science when it comes to the pandemics, we must accept the science on climate. It is clear human activity has increased average global temperatures... I support Australia achieving zero net emissions by 2050.
"A huge part of tackling climate change is unleashing the potential of cheaper, cleaner renewable energy, and Eden-Monaro is well placed to benefit from investment in renewables. Renewables will mean more jobs for Eden-Monaro - in existing industries and via the jobs that come from attracting science, research and new technologies to our region.
"During the last campaign, Labor named the Far South Coast as our first Community Power Hub. The Tathra community is ahead of the game when it comes to renewable energy, and groups like the Clean Energy for Eternity group give us important models for individuals to invest in renewable energy, and raising funds to put solar panels on community infrastructure."
Dean McCrae, Liberal Democrats
"Whether human activity is causing climate change or not, the important issue is whether governments are capable of implementing policies that mitigate it without reducing the prosperity of future generations.
"At this time the major parties of Australia are failing in this task, evidenced by a power system in crisis, with rising power prices and no impartial, reliable, technologically neutral investment policy for the Australian energy sector for the last 20 years. I favour dependable market-based options, inclusive of all technological solutions in an unbiased way, to address such challenges so as to provide lowest cost and maximum benefit for Australia with a minimum of government intervention."
Karen Porter, independent
"Humans have caused a lot of damage with our climate and have the ability to make positive change.
"[My policies for addressing climate change include] renewables using wind, water, sun including micro hubs, promoting electric vehicles and charging in towns, recycle/reuse/repurpose, regenerative farming practices, educating our children, roll back thermal coal and gas use."
Matthew Stadtmiller, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
"The SFF acknowledges that a growing population of seven billion people on the earth, the activity of humans over time and other naturally occurring climactic features all have some impact on the earth and climate. The degree of these impacts is where the evidence becomes vital in ensuring that any action taken actually has an actual impact on climate, and is in parity with Australia's 'impact'.
"The SFF is not seeking to form government. As such, we do not have a specific policy on this. We will support an evidence-based policy from a state of federal government of the day. Such a policy must use a scientific evidence based approach, and not unnecessarily restrict the activities of farmers, resources, transport, manufacturing or any other industry."