ASPI President Kevin Rudd joined CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, GPS for a discussion on the wildfires in Australia and the challenges ahead in combatting climate change.

Rudd points out that, “for the better part of a decade now, we’ve had continued conservative government in Australia, which has run on an agenda of climate change denial.” The polarized climate change debate in Australia, much like in the U.S. and other countries, makes it very hard to introduce measures which measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transform [Australia’s] economy over time, and situate Australia as a leader in global climate action, advises Rudd.

Rudd continues, “The politics of fear…on the cost of climate action has been well mobilized by the conservatives and Murdoch in Australia, just as it has been well mobilized in the U.S. by the conservatives through the echo chamber of Fox News.” And the media’s continued offensive on climate action, “has not only been an assault in Australia, but also has had an effect on the global consensus on climate change.” When asked about what lessons the U.S. can learn from Australia, Rudd said that the U.S. should prepare for much worse wild weather conditions, as some U.S. regions, such as California and Florida, closely resemble the Mediterranean and tropical climate in Australia.

Watch the interview on CNN>>