21 January 2020. Farmers for Climate Action has called on all sides of politics to work together to manage the risks of climate change to safeguard the NSW agriculture sector.
The call comes as the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Resources, Michael Johnsen sought to inflame tensions within the NSW Coalition over climate change; calling for NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean to be stripped of his portfolio.
Farmers for Climate Action Deputy Chair and Crookwell sheep farmer Charlie Prell said "NSW's farmers are already grappling with ongoing drought, catastrophic fires and extreme weather events, including devastating dust and hail storms.
"Scientists have been telling us for decades that conditions will get worse unless urgent action is taken to reduce emissions and address climate change. While continuing to support adaptive and resilient regional communities is great, we need to do something about the problem at its source. The problem is climate change and we need to address it!
"As land managers, we're passionate about environmental and economic sustainability. The single biggest threat to both of these is climate change."
"These issues are far bigger than politics. Focusing on ideology over science does a disservice to farmers and rural communities right across NSW.
"It's time for NSW's leaders to put aside their political and ideological differences and commit to a meaningful, cohesive emissions reduction and climate policy that supports our farmers, protects the state's future food production and our economic prosperity."
Farmers for Climate Action is a movement of farmers, agricultural leaders and rural Australians working to ensure that farmers, who are on the frontline of climate change, are a key part of its solution.
