Climate Conversations

Lou Costa is a Shepparton girl who was born in the city, had her early education here and became a landscape garden designer after studying in Melbourne.Her chosen profession has seen her, and these are Lou's words: "Dig dirt" throughout the Shepparton electorate,The Rushworth mother of two is an independent candidate for the Saturday, November 28, Victorian election. As an independent with no political background or affiliations, Lou says she answers only to the community, people who live and work in the Shepparton electorate.Lou says she has no political or corporate affiliations, and so her only interest in becoming the Member for Shepparton is in securing what is best for those in the electorate and the people of Victoria.

A mixed bag of voices for this next instalment of 500 people in 50 weeks - The weatherman, the data-driven guy, the farmer, the fellow whose career has been in water and Wilma - all have their say on climate change.You can also have your say, contact me via email at [email protected]; I'll get back to you, and we can chat by phone and via Zoom.

Australia's PM, Anthony Albanese says one thing and does another: "Albanese takes climate warning to New York, but fossil fuel experts test credibility";"Elites Have NO PLAN for Climate Collapse" - YouTube;"Elites Have No Plan for Climate Collapse" - story;"Trump dismantled U.S. climate policy. But his war is cutting emissions.";"Melbourne could adopt a European work trend – but half the population might be left behind";"Multifaith responses to climate change";"‘News to me’: Inside the suburb flagged as Melbourne’s first walkable neighbourhood".

Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick speaks honestly and factually about the certainties of climate change and although those facts can be alarming and depressing, she doesn't want people to be overwhelmed; she wants them to act to counter the dilemma.Professor Perkins-Kirkpatrick is a mother first and, second, a climate scientist, and she doesn't want her views to influence others about having a family.I had a somewhat formulaic approach for my interview with the Professor, but it quickly became almost a chat between friends, or that's how it felt for me.

People from all points on the arc of concern answer my 10 set questions about climate change.Opinions are as diverse as the people questioned, but generally there appeared to be some concern about humanity's approach to what some see as an existential threat.This project seeks the views of 500 people in 50 weeks, asking what they think about climate change.