1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: Simon Upton has eve been watching the vote in Europe 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: last week, an outsized group of young people, I'm sure 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: you're aware, in places like Germany and Italy voted for 4 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: the right of not the far right, and who they 5 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: didn't vote for was the Greens, despite the Greens being 6 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: the alleged go to team for the young ones. Now. 7 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: Upton was speaking at the Environmental Defense Society conference last week. Upton, 8 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: by the way, if you don't know's the Parliamentary Commissioner 9 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: for the Environment. Here is what he said. Listen carefully. 10 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: There is a danger that we all get into a 11 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: bubble of clear sighted, righteous agreement, and if only other 12 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: people had sufficient political will and shared our views, we 13 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: would all be on our way to the Promised Land. 14 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: He added. We can close polluting industries or shun them, 15 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: but in most cases we will simply import the goods. 16 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: He also said we must be willing to entertain environmentally 17 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: damaging activities like mining. What else did he say? Calling 18 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: for green growth isn't the easy economic and environmental when 19 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: some people imagine as it will continually trade one environmental 20 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 1: issue for another. Any change, even a clean green one, 21 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: will be costly. De growth won't be easy, he continued, 22 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: Barring's something of a spiritual awakening. The reality is we 23 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: are likely to continue to worship at the Church of Consumption. 24 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: Simon Upton, where have you been all my life? It's 25 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: probably what I quite liked about them is a health 26 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: minister many many years ago. But there is you wake 27 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: up call. There is your reality check from a bloke 28 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: whose job it is to spruit the climate and the environment. 29 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: And the value of his point was laid out in 30 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: Europe last week. Bludgeon people. You lose. Lie to them 31 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: about the perception of a transition. You lose. Leave a 32 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: gap where the lights can't be turned on on renewables. 33 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: You lose. Pretend evs are the answer, but ignore the 34 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: mining aspect of batteries. You lose. Close down oil and 35 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: gas with no consultation. You lose. Thrash farmers by telling 36 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: them to have fewer cows and drawn them in red tape. 37 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: You lose. In Europe last week they lost theory around 38 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: renewables and the climate story of late might have smashed 39 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: finally into reality and a general fatigue by most of 40 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: us over the zealous bs that pedaled at all costs. 41 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: The kids in Europe got it. The Environment Commissioner clearly 42 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: gets it. And I hope those at the conference, once 43 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: they picked themselves up off the floor, got it as well. 44 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: How about the Chloes and the descenders of this world 45 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: start waking up a bit and reading the room. For 46 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: more from The Mic Asking Breakfast, Listen live to News 47 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: Talks at B from six am weekdays, or follow the 48 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.