Greenpeace head urges climate consensus

12 Aug 2012, 2:40 pm   -   Source: AAP

The new CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific has called for Australia's political leaders to work together on tackling climate change.

Australia faces serious trouble from climate change unless our politicians can reach consensus on the issue and lead the global fight to reduce emissions, the new CEO of Greenpeace says.

David Ritter has urged Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to rethink his promise to repeal the carbon tax if he becomes prime minister, and says Australia must follow its tradition of punching above its weight when it comes to finding solutions to climate change.

Tackling climate change must also involve Australia exerting diplomatic pressure on other nations, he says.

Perth-born Mr Ritter has returned to Australia after five years working for Greenpeace in the UK, to take up the position as CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

The former commercial lawyer first developed a passion for native title issues before turning his focus to the environment.

In London, he worked for Greenpeace on global campaigns on oceans, rainforests and climate change.

There the tone of debate on climate change is "very, very different", with a push for action from all major political parties, he says.

As leader of the opposition, now British Prime Minister David Cameron once launched a policy from the Greenpeace warehouse.

Mr Ritter is urging Mr Abbott to follow the UK Conservatives' bipartisan approach and not repeal the carbon tax.

"Obviously I hope whoever leads the Liberal Party, whether it is Abbott or anyone else, if they do succeed in becoming prime minster I obviously hope they don't repeal the carbon tax," he told AAP.

"I know that statements have been made to that effect, but you would like to hope that a different view would be taken in government."

Instead, Mr Ritter hopes Australia can be a leader in the global response to climate change.

"I'd like to see an Australia which takes an ambitious view on climate change, not only in terms of targets but in terms of things that people feel much more tangibly," he said.

"I would like to see an Australia that took on foreign policy initiatives that were about saying `Look, if climate change is not halted, is not tackled effectively, Australia is in really serious trouble.'

As Greenpeace CEO, Mr Ritter hopes to continue to do as he did in the UK and work with big companies on environmental issues.

During his time in London he built working relationships with retail giants Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury's.

"You can't expect people to act outside of their role," he said.

"People who work within companies will always have to put the company first. But there's an awful lot of room to look for solutions and to look for where we can make progress.

"I see the role of Greenpeace as tapping into the extraordinary energy, emotion and willingness and goodwill that exists among people to really get moving and change things."

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