Sydney, 4 February 2016 - Reacting to news of forced large-scale job cuts at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said:
“Malcolm Turnbull has lost credibility as a reasonable leader who understands the challenges of climate change, and the way it is already affecting Australia.
“The CSIRO’s work is crucially important to how Australia measures the impacts of climate change and develops plans to adapt to it. Forcing these cuts puts our environmental and economic future at risk.
“Australia made legally binding commitments at the Paris climate talks in December to limit global warming to below 2C. The Turnbull government cannot seriously claim to uphold these commitments while dismantling the foremost scientific institution that is researching climate change.
“Australia is one of the world's highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases and its pledge to cut emissions at Paris was among the least ambitious.
“The Turnbull government is championing a shortsighted vision for Australia that is based on coal and oil, when other developed nations are closing the door on these energy sources and moving to a clean, renewable energy future.”
“The CSIRO’s work is crucially important to how Australia measures the impacts of climate change and develops plans to adapt to it. Forcing these cuts puts our environmental and economic future at risk.
“Australia made legally binding commitments at the Paris climate talks in December to limit global warming to below 2C. The Turnbull government cannot seriously claim to uphold these commitments while dismantling the foremost scientific institution that is researching climate change.
“Australia is one of the world's highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases and its pledge to cut emissions at Paris was among the least ambitious.
“The Turnbull government is championing a shortsighted vision for Australia that is based on coal and oil, when other developed nations are closing the door on these energy sources and moving to a clean, renewable energy future.”
ENDS