Christine Milne warns Hawkesbury university students of Earth's threat from humanity

‘‘The attack on earth, our home, through carbon emissions, has led to global warming,’’ Ms Milne told a sustainability conference at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus on September 16.

‘‘A four degree increase in overall temperatures would make earth unlivable for most of our species.’’

The former Greens senator had been asked how she foresaw the planet’s future and what advice she had for young people.

‘‘We’re already seeing the collapse of ecosystems and we’ve already passed some tipping points, such as the melting of the Antarctic ice sheet,’’ Ms Milne said.

‘‘But we do have a hope of survival; I’m putting my trust in all of you here.’’

She said growing inequality was another problem for today’s world and blamed it on the same economic ideology she claimed was responsible for environmental crises.

‘‘So many start with the idea we have to fix the economy before we fix the environment,’’ Ms Milne said.

‘‘That’s a mad statement because we live on a finite planet.’’

She said governments should use the economy to benefit people, such as promoting non-polluting renewable energy. Upper Colo resident Emily Ward, who is studying media at the University of Wollongong, was at the conference.

‘‘Christine Milne was really inspiring; it was interesting hearing her speak,’’ Ms Ward said.

‘‘I think given climate change and how it affects food production, we need to think about living sustainably now, not in the future. The world’s population is growing, so we need to increase our food supply and decrease our carbon emissions.’’

She said she had always been interested in environmental issues, because she grew up on a farm and her father was an environmental science lecturer.

She also said more environmentalists were starting to see farmers as allies.

‘‘Farmers have to maintain their land to get a living out of it,’’ Ms Ward said.

‘‘I think the view that farmers can’t look after the environment is a bit misplaced.’’