Politicians 'Unaware' Heat Deaths Are a 'Thing,' Says Think Tank
The Guardian reports that Australian Coalition MPs, while 'weighing up' abandoning net zero commitments, received a briefing from the conservative Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) claiming 'heat deaths aren’t a thing' and that wind/solar can't provide 'low-cost energy.' This isn't just a baffling disregard for science; it's a playbook straight from the fossil fuel lobby's dusty archives.
Remember when tobacco companies insisted cigarettes were good for your throat? The CIS, like many 'independent' think tanks globally, consistently advocates for policies that benefit big business and extractive industries, often downplaying climate risks. One might wonder who funds these briefings, and what investments those MPs might have in industries that profit from delay and denial. It seems
'conservative' now means actively conserving profits for a select few, even if it means dismissing basic environmental facts. How many more heatwaves before 'reconsideration' becomes 'too late'?