Spring exited into summer with record temperatures soaring to more than 40° Celsius in much of New South Wales and South Australia over the final days of November.

It was a harbinger of already existing climate change and a reminder of the federal government’s abrogation of responsibility to set serious emissions’ targets.

Meanwhile, public support for action on climate change is higher now than it was at the peak of the catastrophic bushfires last summer. According to the latest Guardian Essential poll, 81% support a net zero emissions target by 2050 (a 10-point increase since January) and 75% support a net zero target by 2030, rather than mid-century (an 11 point increase).

Read the full article on the Green Left website, featuring commentary by Prof Frank Jotzo