Facts must rise above the gas if Australia is to deal with the climate crisis

‘The emissions from gas production recorded in Australia’s greenhouse accounts are just a fraction of the total they caused.’ Photograph: Dazman/Getty Images/iStockphoto

One of the most striking voices for aggressive climate action right now is the secretary general of the United Nations. Speaking at the Major Economies Forum hosted by Joe Biden last month, António Guterres held little back as he compared the culpability of coal, oil and gas companies in causing climate breakdown to the damage caused by the tobacco industry.

“We seem trapped in a world where fossil fuel producers and financiers have humanity by the throat. For decades, the fossil fuel industry has invested heavily in pseudoscience and public relations, with a false narrative to minimise their responsibility for climate change and undermine ambitious climate policies,” Guterres said.