The NSW environment minister has hit out at climate change sceptics within the federal government amid an unprecedented bushfire season, and warned Australia's coal export markets are beginning to decarbonise.
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Matt Kean on Tuesday said a royal commission into the bushfire crisis - for which Prime Minister Scott Morrison is preparing a proposal - would not hinder state-based inquiries as flagged by NSW and Victoria.
But he said any Canberra-led royal commission needed to be clear about the veracity of climate change and its impact on bushfires in Australia.
He criticised federal members of his own party who continued to deny human-induced climate change and hinder decarbonisation policies.
The consensus among scientists is that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of bushfires in Australia.
"We shouldn't need a royal commission to convince (federal MP) Craig Kelly and the likes of him in the federal coalition partyroom to believe climate change is real," Mr Kean told ABC Radio National on Thursday.
"The more time we waste debating whether it's real is the more time we waste in dealing with the actual issue ... we need to get serious."
Mr Kean said Australia was well-placed to adapt to a post-fossil fuel world and would need to do so to ensure future economic prosperity.
"The reality is that the majority of the world market we currently ship our coal to are starting to decarbonise and they're looking for newer, cheaper products to power their economies," Mr Kean said.
Australian Associated Press
