Talking Climate with the Adikaram Familiy
- Gregory Andrews
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The climate crisis has no borders - and nor should our responsibility
Cycling through Coffs Harbour on my #eBike4Australia ride, I met the Adikaram family from Sri Lanka. Senaan, his mum and dad, and his sister were on a road trip along Australia’s east coast. We got talking beside my loaded-up e-bike, the sun hot on the concrete, and within the space of five minutes our conversation turned from travel to the climate crisis.
The Adikarams told me of climate impacts back home: rising heat and humidity, shifting monsoons, floods that take lives and livelihoods, and the pressure on farmers already living close to the edge. But they also told me something else - something that blows apart one of Australia’s most persistent, convenient myths. Sri Lanka is acting on climate change. And they’re moving faster than us.
The Adikaram family home has solar panels on the roof and they drive an EV. They’ve lived through the power crises that pushed Sri Lanka to rethink its energy future. Sri Lanka has committed to 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and a pathway to net zero by 2050. Offshore wind zones are being mapped. Feed-in tariffs have grown household solar. And communities and families just like the Adikarams are adapting because they have no choice.
The reality is that other countries are taking action. Many of them are taking bolder steps than we are. And yet, somehow, climate deniers still cling to their tired line: “Australia is too small to matter - nobody else is acting.” Not only is this just wrong - it’s offensive to the millions of people worldwide who are already living the frontline impacts and doing the hard work.
The climate crisis doesn’t care where we were born. It doesn’t care what passport we carry. It doesn’t care what language we speak. But we can care. We can act. And we can stand together - like the Adikarams - with humility, courage, and hope. Yesterday, in the heat of the Coffs Harbour sun, that truth felt beautifully, powerfully clear.
It's a bit like the anti-vaccers. Maybe they are right. As long as 99% of the population is vaccinated they will be OK. Seems to me though, that is bludging on everyone else. Sure, what we do won't make a lot of difference with our emissions, but do we really want to be known as a mob of bludging bastards? We don't do too badly pound for pound though. With less than 1% of the world's population, with exports we are responsible for about 5% of emissions. Doesn't it make ya proud.😒
I enjoy reading your posts everyday Gregory! You’re such an inspiration, love all your articles thank you for your passion and dedication.