Nearly everyone is worried about climate change.
A ground-breaking global survey of 10,000 young people in 10 countries – including Australia – published in The Lancet in 2021 found that 84% were worried, with more than half feeling sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty. Last year, the Climate Council reported three-quarters of Australians were worried about climate change. And right now, local association Good for the Gong is running a community survey that opens with the question: “The Illawarra is already experiencing more extreme weather and rising temperatures. What climate action do you think governments should focus on most?”
Today The Illawarra Flame joins publications around the world to mark the start of Joint Coverage Week — part of a broader, year-long effort called The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. It's based on evidence that between 80 and 89% of the world’s people want their governments to be doing more to address climate change and the idea that it is time to share their stories.
"This huge yet silent climate majority flips the script on narratives of climate change as a niche concern and shows that most governments are profoundly out of step with the public on this issue," the Covering Climate Now team says. "What’s more, according to the same studies, many in this silent climate majority don’t realise that they’re in the majority — that many of their neighbours and fellow citizens feel the same as they do — perhaps because they seldom see their views reflected in news coverage or on social media."
So who are the 89 Percent in the Illawarra?
Meet Phebe the conversation starter, Maddy the protestor and Tom the letter writer – three local residents each doing it their way.
After worrying about climate change for years and taking part in protests such as the 2023 blockade of Newcastle coal port, Oak Flats grandfather Tom Hunt is now choosing to share his concerns via Letters to the Editor in local and national newspapers. What's more, he's found it an effective way of reaching an undecided demographic.
"I have two children and two grandchildren," Tom said. "My fear is that their world and our society will become vastly different to the one that I and my generation have enjoyed. The consequences of the (still unchecked) global air, land and sea pollution from our ever growing society will clearly not be kind to them.
"I am motivated though by the thought that every kilogram of CO2 and other pollution I can stop from going into our environment may make their lives just slightly better."
As well as a keen letter writer, Tom is a member of Electrify Illawarra, Renew Illawarra, Wollongong Climate Action Network, Citizens Climate Lobby, and University of the 3rd Age. Thanks to Tom for taking the time to tell us more.
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a retired systems engineer and project manager. I worked 31 years with BHP IT based at Port Kembla and 11 with the University of Wollongong. I now live with my wife in the home we built on the shore of Lake Illawarra back in 2003. I have a degree in physics and maths, certificate in electronics, and enjoy dabbling in lots of things including boating, photography, art and music.
But my main passion since retiring in 2017 has been to understand and do what I can to avoid climate change.
When we started living just above sea level, I became concerned by reports that climate change might threaten our lifestyle investment. One report said, “If Greenland’s ice melts the sea will rise 7 metres” had me checking the facts myself. They were right. The ice on that massive island is an average depth of 3km. Luckily for us all, that ice will take centuries to melt, but the more I researched and learned about Earth’s history and climate change, the more intrigued and concerned I became.
I’ve worked to change our lifestyle, to lower my own ‘footprint’ and to help prove that we have the technology to help solve the issue of carbon emissions. Starting with solar panels and a Prius hybrid 16 years ago, we have gradually converted our home and cars to be powered entirely by the energy from our roof. The nice thing is this hasn’t just reduced our emissions, it’s saving us a lot of money.
What got you started writing Letters to the Editor?
I realised long ago that mankind’s biggest problem wasn’t going to be solved just by having the technology available. Sadly, it is not science, but politics, populism and big business that drives the world. I have been doing whatever I can to influence the powers that be in Australia – learning about politics, organising and attending protests and talks, attracting media attention, lobbying federal, state and local politicians, writing letters and sharing knowledge of the subject.
Social media has been useful for meeting and communicating with people of like mind, but in recent years I have been focusing more on talking with the people who are yet to be convinced of the need for more urgent action. Letters to the editors of newspapers can be a very effective way of communicating with a demographic group that is still undecided, and a positive way to help provide the “social licence” politicians tell me they are waiting for before making the big changes.
What letters have you written and how successful have they been?
My writing is almost exclusively concerning climate change, its impacts, the solutions, and the changes we need to make. Invariably, politics does get involved – since sadly that seems to be mostly what holds us back.
I have to say I’ve written a lot of letters to newspapers that just never got published. That’s pretty soul destroying if you have difficulty finding the right words and spend as long as I do deciding what to say. It’s not as if the editors give you any clues. Some send an automated reply reminding you to have included your name, address and phone number even when you have already, but none of them respond with any advice or explanation. There are rules, of course. Most papers ask for no more than 250 words or so, and it is difficult to keep to that on subjects you are passionate about. And, of course, your subject has to be topical, preferably referring to a recent article. It’s always a thrill when one gets published.
I didn't tally up my early successes but a friend recently said she had counted 58 in the Illawarra Mercury over the last two years. It's been satisfying seeing my letters published there and also in a range of other papers including the Daily Telegraph, The Australian Financial Review, The Canberra Times and the Australian.
I encourage others to write to newspapers: it's a good way of contributing to the national debate and raising awareness about issues that are of concern to you. You can even communicate with your favourite MP this way. Mention a politician's name in your letter, and you can be fairly sure they will read it, and pay attention (if it gets published, that is, so be polite).
Have you had any interesting responses?
It’s hard to judge what effect any particular letter has, though some inspire interesting comments and responses in the same pages or online. They say the Letters page is one of the most read pages of any newspaper, so I trust there is reasonable readership of them. And I do get a surprisingly positive response from local friends and acquaintances who still read the local rag.
Which letter are you most proud of?
The biggest letter-writing high I’ve had was getting three letters published in a little over a week at the end of 2019 at the height our worst ever bushfires, all in the Australian Financial Review.
But the letter for which I have gotten the most positive feedback was one closer to home [in The Illawarra Mercury]. It broke all the rules – the longest letter I've ever written for a newspaper – so I wasn't sure they would even consider it. But I included references for key points I was making and all of the things I said, needed to be said. I still like the title I submitted it with “It’s in the wind”. I was trying to be sensitive to everyone's viewpoint.
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3 Ways with Climate Action: Meet Phebe the conversation starter, Maddy the protestor and Tom the letter writer – three local residents each doing it their way.
This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.