At the end of 2006, a somewhat surprising thing happened. John Howard went on the 7.30 Report and completed a very slow u-turn on the issue of climate change.
"I accept that climate change is a challenge, I accept the broad theory about global warming…[t]he truth is, I'm not that sceptical. I think the weight of scientific evidence suggests that there is significant and damaging growth in the levels of greenhouse gas emissions."
The cynics on the progressive side of politics, myself included, immediately thought that these were the words of a man spooked by the imminent rise of Kevin Rudd, a man that looked almost exactly like him, except almost 20 years younger. The conservative side of politics however, seemed stunned, almost…sad. Andrew Bolt looked lost, confused. He didn't know what to say, and he always knows what to say.
It was the same for numerous other conservative, slightly camp talk back radio hosts who spent a large amount of their air time laughing up the 'bullshit' scenarios of the climate change believing nut bags. All while the John Howard battle standard remained hoisted proudly atop their station's AM transmitter. All of the sudden, JWH had said something that conflicted with their views and they were punch drunk. When Rupert Murdoch joined the climate chorus the whole of 2GB went on suicide watch.
That was four years ago and since then we've had a change of government with climate change as a major issue in the election, an abortive attempt to do something about it, wrist-slashing and nashing of teeth from the opposition, and now a concerted fight back from the climate sceptics.
Momentum was lost, and many people have started to second guess themselves. People have tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. There has been a sudden realisation that things would have to change, that stuff would cost more, and that lifestyles were at stake. Then someone mentioned Australia's population and immigration figures, and climate change policy was well and truly fucked.
It's not surprising that the asylum issue has again raised its predictable head, as the 'other' is always first to cop it when lifestyles are under threat. The only way to protect an unsustainable lifestyle is to prevent anyone else from getting it. It seems that many people have decided that it's time to get selfish.
It's become fashionable because people believe it is unfashionable. Believing in climate change has become akin to that horrible thing of being politically correct. Believing in climate change will soon be in the same social dust bin multiculturalism, tolerance and basic human decency. It's the easy decision to take, and above all it's comfortable. It's easy to be sceptical, because then you don't have to do anything.
We're back where we started, an argument between a side desperate for action, and another who have decided they just don't care.
Everything is fine, now what's on TV?
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