OK, so how can we create movement in the platforms of the big two parties? Here are some approaches I'm aware of, what do you think?
- preferencing The Greens and independents/ minor parties that prioritise the environment will put more pressure on major parties to change their policies
- asking your local candidates to commit to environmental issues you care about: e.g. more limits on fossil fuel expansion, more support for renewables, committing to the Great Forest National Park, more funding for endangered species monitoring and protections, protecting our forests and better enforcing laws against landclearing and pollution, putting a real price on carbon, making polluting industries pay through better taxes that foreground environmental impacts.
What else?
"it’s not a priority for the electorate." - it's worth diving deeper here, rather than stopping at this surface level of thinking.
For example:
These are complex issues that need layers of analysis. Systems Thinking is a useful approach, rather than thinking about just the citizens, politicians, and industry in isolation
**More about Aus attitudes to climate issues: ** https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-05/australia-attitudes-climate-change-action-morrison-government/11878510--- tps://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/australian-attitudes-to-climate-change/
Systems thinking and climate change: "In the context of climate change, a systems thinking approach refers to understanding and predicting people’s response to the crisis by exploring the factors and vulnerabilities that influence them. It involves simultaneously seeing the overall climate picture and how it intersects with health, gender, livelihoods, and other sectors–this helps achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the issue." https://idronline.org/article/climate-emergency/connecting-the-dots-systems-thinking-for-climate-solutions/
Short online course: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/using-systems-thinking-to-tackle-the-climate-and-biodiversity-crisis