Let the best arguments win

Unfortunately, it’s very hard for citizens to distinguish lies from truth. E.g. the “Children Overboard” scandal - a well timed lie can win an election. At the very least we need honesty in our election materials. Libellous electioneering is dangerous.

Agreed, we must direct a lot of attention to what’s happening in the US. But we have multiple government departments to work on concurrent crises (not one person with one phone).

Yes, and systems thinking would encourage us to explore why that is: Starting with understanding the patterns, systems and structures, mental models that cause ppl (especially in Aus) to treat Climate Change like a less important problem than the rise of fascism.

“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:

• Why is concern about climate change and the environment less of priority in Australia than other highly educated, OECD countries?
• What is the role of our media environment; in particular, the narratives from dominant NewsCorp and Sky News?
• How has the Overton Window shaped what people pay attention to in terms of public policy and possible futures?
• Acknowledging that mining and extraction have played a large part in the history of Australia’s economic development but we now need to transition to renewables and cleaner industries, what changes do we need to make to policies, public discourse, science education, jobs-ready training, systems and structures?
• What narratives, systems and structures are favouring short termism and limiting our ability as a nation to address long term issues? Experts and government agencies are fully aware that the climate crisis already impacting (and will have massive effects on) global trade, the economy, jobs and growth, health, education, cost of living, home ownership. The Insurance industry is sounding the alarm already.. Impacts on communities worldwide through bushfire, flood and other natural disasters are just the starting point. So, thinking broadly, how might we improve our systems so that we don’t just keep throwing money at short-term fixes, and start to make change that will could massively change the future for Australians?

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

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?

Yep, good to hear the in-laws echoing criticism of Dutton this weekend - because they’re appalled he’s intending to copy Trump and Musk

The importance of internal public sector roles such as communications is something we need to continue to talk about to people who are worried about governments wasting money. We need to make it apparent to everyone that they are essential for basic, frontline public systems to work effectively. Our schools, hospitals, pollution control, roads… all rely on ‘backend’ systems and communication between different arms of government.
The major tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas (yes, we’re talking the US, not a poverty stricken nation) is becoming a problem because there are no communications between public health departments and agencies - because Trump has halted their funding.