With NSW preparing for yet another day of severe bushfire threat and the pall of smoke hanging over the east coast from the nearly 70 fires still burning, we have literally come face to face with what our future will look like unless we address climate change.
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In past week due to air pollution we have seen the cancellation of various sporting events and our annual Christmas on John Street activities.
The Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network has been recording day after day, week after week of hazardous levels of air pollution.
By our estimates the alerts for 2019 will be three times higher than 2018.
This impacts on everyones health but especially the young, frail and elderly.
Hotter, drier, conditions results in more and intense fires - that the simple truth of the matter.
So we have a choice - do nothing think climate change is some mad scheme or we can act and act decisively.
We accept what the scientific community is telling us as we believe in vaccinations, taking folic acid when pregnant and wearing a hat to prevent skin cancer.
Singleton's Council decision to prepare reports on air pollution and climate change is a step in the right direction.
But we have to do more and by more make a decision to start the transition away from thermal coal.
What does that mean - for our political leaders it means saying no to new thermal coal mines.
That won't close the industry overnight as having read, unlike our political leaders every EIS prepared for a mine application in the last decade, most mines will continue for at least two decades.
Think Rix's Creek, Warkworth and United Wambo.
Just nothing new - no Bylong no Shenhua mines.
Then put all our efforts into a just transition instead of wasting money arguing at planning hearings the pros and cons of jobs in thermal coal mines.
The millions of dollars wasted in these planning exercises should be spent on new industries based on renewable energy like the proposed medical cannabis factory.
Singleton could have the best future it has so many advantages and assets but at the moment we are simply choking ourselves and our future. Time to transition is now.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
