Be braveThe climate change risk assessment report is sobering reading, highlighting a horror story of losses and harms to Australians unless we take urgent action. We are facing productivity loss, increasing heat-related deaths and 1.5 million of us at risk from sea level rises by 2050 as well as many more flooding events. As the government is about to set our 2035 climate target we need it to be brave and focused.Chrissie Pickin, Brighton
Net zero should be bare minimumThe Victorian Liberals have rejected net zero, joining other state Liberal branches (“Scrap net zero, Victorian Liberal members tell Sussan Ley”, 14/9). They should reconsider, if only to shore up their electoral chances. Labor won the last federal election with climate action as a key policy. Many of the swinging voters needed by state Liberal leader Brad Battin are likely to support net zero.Critics of net zero detail the costs and delays of the Labor program, saying “we cannot afford it”. However, the alternative scenarios are far more damaging and expensive. The newly released National Climate Risk Assessment confirms this. If climate action is ignored, it will result in more flooding, bushfires and extreme heatwaves. The human cost and the hit to farms and businesses will be terrible. Net zero by 2050 should be the bare minimum action.John Hughes, Mentone
Libs blocking their earsThe extraordinary thing about the debate within the Victorian Liberal Party on the net zero target for 2050, was the self-serving argument for its retention – “It will destroy chances of winning the next election.” It is astonishing that the reason for this target is ignored. Is there no one who has taken the time to understand what climate change is about? That there is no one in that room who might put the case for reducing emissions, based on internationally acknowledged research on the rapidly apparent impact of not doing so.Carolyn Ingvarson, Canterbury
Out of touchBy voting to scrap net zero the Victorian Libs have deserted the moral ground. And by timing it to coincide with the release of the National Climate Risk Assessment, they are out of touch.Ray Peck, Hawthorn
