DR SOPHIE SCAMPS, INDEPENDENT, MACKELLAR
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE BUT THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE. Dr Sophie Scamps
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: DR SOPHIE SCAMPS
DR SOPHIE SCAMPS’ PASSION FOR POLITICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT SHINES THROUGH IN EVERYTHING SHE DOES. WORKING AND LIVING ON THE NORTHERN BEACHES FOR 22 YEARS, SHE HAS DEVELOPED A STRONG UNDERSTANDING FOR HER COMMUNITY. HER DETERMINATION TO MAKE A CHANGE SEES HER STANDING AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION WITH NO ALLEGIANCE OTHER THAN TO HER ELECTORATE. At the time of writing this article, parts of the Northern Beaches from Narrabeen to Manly were underwater due to unprecedented floods and heavy rain hitting our community. I hope that by the time you read this latest issue of Beaches COVERED., the thousands of people and small businesses impacted have recovered and are starting to get back on their feet. While some may try to use the floods to deflect and tell us ‘now isn’t the time to talk about climate change’ – I completely disagree.
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In fact, my concern about how climate change will impact our community and the government’s lack of action are some reasons I decided to run as an Independent candidate for Mackellar at the next Federal election. What worries me most is that while it is clear climate change is already impacting our community, the government seems more interested in supporting their mates in the fossil fuel industry than in taking action to protect our community. The record rain and floods that impacted the east coast during March, including us here on the Northern Beaches, were unprecedented and driven by climate change.
to prevent coastal erosion affecting more of our beautiful beaches. As a GP, I also see climate change as a health emergency. I still remember just two summers ago, while working as a GP in Narrabeen, I saw many patients suffering from breathing problems caused by the smoke and air pollution from the Black Summer bushfires. While we’re already seeing the impacts of climate change, we can still prevent the worst effects from occurring. But the window of opportunity is closing fast. The next three years are absolutely critical to the type of future we want to see, which is why this election is so vitally important, and why I am standing to be Mackellar’s Independent voice in Canberra.
I know some people that live near Narrabeen Lagoon have now been evacuated twice in the last three years as the risk of floods increases.
Now is the time for us all to stand up, and do whatever we can to help limit climate change. So what can you do?
Coastal erosion is also a real problem here on the Northern Beaches, as people living in Collaroy and elsewhere on the coast know all too well. We need to act on climate change
Firstly, vote for a candidate that wants to see serious action on climate change – this election is our final chance to get real action on climate change through our Parliament.
