All voices must be heard on climate

Klein opines on the Australian government's proposal to strip environmental groups of their right to challenge its decisions. Environment minister Josh Frydenberg indicated that his party would seek to modify the law so that only people with a "direct interest"--local farmers and landowners--would have the right to challenge new resource projects. The aim is to clamp down on what the government calls "vigilante litigation" or "green lawfare." In the climate change era, it's more important than ever that environmental organizations have regal rights that allow them to hold their governments to account. It's also reasonable for them to play an active part in doing the same with other governments. If Australia goes ahead with its plan to gag green groups that stand in the way of new coal mines, it will set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the world.