Renewing democracy in a time of environmental crisis
"I've always followed the issues that the Australian community are concerned about," says social researcher Dr Rebecca Huntley. "There are high levels of concern in the community about climate change, regardless of how you measure them, but people have very low levels of expectation that our leaders not only can, but will, do anything about it," she says. Dr Huntley says studies have revealed a common misconception in which people believe there are greater numbers of climate change deniers and coal supporters in the community than there actually are. "That's because those voices are amplified in the media, in certain parts of corporate Australia and in some parts of the government, so that's a really important misconception," she says. "This is why things like reform of the political donation system, certainly at the Federal level, is an important part of restoring people's faith that a transition away from old energy sources to these new renewable energy sources, is something that will actually happen." Episode recorded: November 18, 2019. Interviewer: Dr Andi Horvath. Producer, editor and audio engineer: Chris Hatzis. Co-production: Silvi Van-Wall and Dr Andi Horvath. Banner image: Shutterstock.