While Prime Minister Scott Morrison may not have undergone a total ‘Pauline’ conversion in terms of some of his personal and ideological views his responses on Sunday’s major interview on ABC television generated widespread interest.

Mr Morrison revealed that his government is moving to catch up with the national perception that the climatic extremes and ‘catastrophic’-level bushfires in most states in recent months have signalled that the decades ahead may well contain more of the same.

Mr Morrison said there was “no dispute” that climate change was bringing “longer, hotter, drier summer seasons” but also indicated that Australia’s current policy of meeting its obligations under the Paris Climate Accord which involves this country lowering its emission levels by between 26 and 28 per cent by 2030 remain, for the time being, the best Australia’s economic and social progress can reasonably manage.

The prime minister did allow, however, that Australia could work to meet and better the 2030 target.

Mr Morrison has recognised the extent of the harm the extreme bushfire conditions has caused to the Australian economy, many towns, villages and farms, and people from all walks of life.

The idea of a significant national inquiry, perhaps a Royal Commission, involving the Commonwealth and all the states, along with the input of experts from many areas; agriculture, small business, the environment, water resources – and more will be presented to the Morrison cabinet.

The extent and nature of such an inquiry remains to be seen but it is evident that many heavy-hitters in Australia including key business leaders, scientists, ecologists, agricultural experts and disaster management specialists – including rural fire service leaders – want such an undertaking.

It is clear that Mr Morrison on Sunday did touch on areas which have drawn positive responses from the wider community.

The experiences of the current fire season have highlighted the critical importance of planning and preparedness but also the issues of ‘adaptation and resilience’ in the likelihood of future extreme events.

Mr Morrison has stressed he sees no overnight cure for the consequences of climate change in the Australian landscape, noting that if all of Australia’s current coal-fired power stations (which currently produce 73 per cent of the nation’s electricity needs) were closed the vast Chinese network of coal-fired power stations would continue to produce the equivalent of Australia’s annual emissions every 90 days.

Mr Morrison said Australia would develop technologies to “reduce emissions even further and we’re going to do it without a carbon tax, without putting up electricity prices and without shutting down traditional industries upon which regional Australians depend for their very livelihood.’’

Australia, said Mr Morrison, would seek to engage with the international community about the challenges posed by climate change.

The prime minister’s acknowledgement that climate change was real and having an evident impact on Australia may be welcomed by a great many people who believe the warnings that a majority of climate scientists, oceanographers, and bio and environmental scientists have been issuing for years about the adverse signals they have observed in the natural world.

However, there are some in this country and others who do not recognise the alleged dangers to our planet and offer alternative reasons from the warming trend such as sunspots, planetary alignments, natural climate cycles, or the misinterpretation of – or faking – of research material.

Now, we live in a society where contestable opinions, sincere expressions of belief, subjective judgements, ideological views, are generally explored and debated.

But, there come times when fact-based, peer-reviewed, well-tested and authoritative scientific knowledge should be judged to better inform the public interest and politicians alike.

Let us hope that, as the new decade rolls out, the governments of this country listen more closely to their expert advisers, especially those in the fields associated with climate change and how we should respond to its effects.

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