Dr. Ken Henry, a former treasury secretary, has recently voiced his support for the Torres Strait Islander peoples’ concerns regarding climate change. In fact, during his inaugural address at the National Press Club, he went after the media. He blasted them for their decades long campaign to erode the scientific consensus around climate change. He reminded attendees that the media has an essential democratic function to perform in ensuring government accountability on climate action and promise.
Justice Wigney and Stewart have echoed these sentiments in their recent judgments. The IPCC scientists are adamant that Australia needs to do more, and do it urgently, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Both justices went to great lengths to reiterate that the scientific evidence on climate change is overwhelming. They wrote about holding firm to the promises made under international accords like the Paris Agreement.
Dr. Henry lamented the existence of industries that thrive on environmental destruction and called for urgent reforms in both media reporting and governmental accountability. These comments are in response to consistent struggles Australia has seen when trying to tackle climate change.
The Need for Media Reform
In his address, Dr. Henry emphasized the pivotal function of the media as the “Fourth Estate.” He stated, “We used to talk about the critical role played by the ‘Fourth Estate’.” He highlighted the media’s responsibility in covering the truth about climate—all of it. They need to use their power to ensure that political leaders are held accountable for their promises to take action against climate change.
Dr. Henry couldn’t hide his disappointment. He lamented that rather than defending the scientific community, the media has focused for decades on undermining it, a reality that hampers international progress on fighting climate change. He continued to call journalists and news organizations to account, reminding them of their critical role in sharing essential facts and promoting participatory, informed public discourse.
“It’s time that we rebuilt it.” – Dr. Ken Henry
The former treasury secretary’s call for reform comes at a time when trust in traditional media is waning, leading many to turn to alternative news sources, often referred to as the “Fifth Estate.” He emphasized that independent platforms can and should play a role in making government actions more transparent. They can make climate policies more accountable.
Judicial Support for Climate Science
Recent judicial rulings have bolstered the positions laid out by Dr. Henry, highlighting the value of scientific evidence to inform and guide policy decisions on climate. Justice Wigney noted that “the best available science was and is clear” concerning climate change, highlighting the urgency for governments to act based on this evidence.
Justice Stewart further emphasized that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to prevent the most dangerous impacts of climate change. In his ruling, he stated, “To prevent the worst and most dangerous impacts of climate change, it was and is imperative for every country to take steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions so as to ensure that the increase in the global average temperature is held to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.”
Yet, these judgments are incredibly important. They create a binding legal structure that requires urgent action on climate change, so that every policy decision is driven by the best available science. Dr. Henry concluded by saying that ultimately, these rulings would help the press to have a clearer understanding of their duty.
Climate Change and Environmental Accountability
Dr. Henry’s statements speak to a larger industry trend of avoiding environmental accountability by putting profit over sustainability. He pointed out that many prevalent business models are based on “destroying the natural world.” Digging potholes isn’t some noble, rearguard action to save local communities or global ecosystems from carbon-spewing projects.
He extended heartfelt condolences to Torres Strait Islander peoples suffering displacement from climate change. He concluded by saying that governments and industries must feel an ethical responsibility to address these concerns in a holistic manner.
“What has been missing here is a respect for the science, is a respect for the evidence, is a respect for the truth,” – Dr. Ken Henry
His statements are a clear reflection of the concerns raised previously by Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad. Malaysia’s nonagenarian and recent former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has called attention to the ill fate of human civilization. Dr. Mahathir stated, “Something has gone wrong with the world, with human civilisation,” echoing Dr. Henry’s sentiments regarding urgent environmental reform.
