Page 55 - Carbon Capitalism and Communication Confronting Climate Crisis

38 N. KLEIN AND C. WRIGHT

these same discussions for 30 years about why we’re too white or too
middle class, and doing so little about it in terms of sharing resources and
sharing the spotlight? If we can’t change then how do we expect to have
any credibility asking our governments to change?
CW: Politicians here in Australia are fond of pointing out we’ve barely
1% of world emissions so Australia can’t really claim a leading role in
climate action. What do you make of this argument and what do you
think Australia’s proper role in climate action should be?
NK: Look, Australia has the highest per capita emissions anywhere in the
developed world. Australia wants to open the largest coal mine anywhere in
the world. Australia has some of the dirtiest coal fired power plants in the
world. Australia is not irrelevant and this is just an excuse that we’ve been
hearing for too long and this is why we have international negotiations by
the way. We have international negotiations because nobody can do this on
their own. We have to come together and we have to do it in a way that we
all agree to.
There is a UN climate convention that agrees to the principle of com-
mon but differentiated responsibilities, which means that the solutions
should reflect the fact that Australia had a 200 year head start on burning
coal. So that means that there’sa greater responsibility to lead and when
countries like Australia, Canada and the United States make a bold com-
mitments that makes it harder for countries like China and India to resist.
It strengthens the movements in countries like China and India that are
wanting to leap frog over fossil fuels and those movements are increasing
strong. So I think that’s a pretty ridiculous argument.