How the climate crisis inspired a traveler to enter politics

Huw Kingston 11/10/2019

For some, the climate crisis isn’t just cause for alarm; it’s a catalyst for action. Adventurer and environmentalist Huw Kingston sought to tackle the issue from the inside out by throwing his hat into the ‘snakepit’ of Australian politics for the 2019 general election.

I looked for water but the river ran dry. I could have cried and, if I had, my tears would have been the only thing flowing in those parts. I was in southern India with a plan to kayak—but no water to do so.

The day before, in a hotel in the hill country of Andhra Pradesh, I’d made a decision I’d been ruminating on for months. Swatting mosquitos after giving a keynote presentation at an adventure travel conference, I decided to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming Australian election. I’d never stood for any level of government before, but I’d had enough.

All expeditions have a catalyst. The one for this next journey had been four months earlier. In the midst of an Australian winter, after some fine days touring and turning in the Snowy Mountains, I skied back to my car. The high I was on took a dive when I switched on the car radio and listened in disbelief to the news that another sitting Prime Minister had been dumped by his own party. Australia was truly now the coup capital of the western world.

Huw Kingston adventuring in the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan. — After speaking at an adventure conference, Huw made the bold decision to step into an entirely different type of adventure—the world of Australian politics. Photo: Anthony Schnabel

I was angry that our elected representatives lived in another world where narrow, vested interests sucked oxygen that should be used for governing, not game-playing. Internal party politics were too often the lead story when focus needed to be on the most important issues of our times; none more so than climate change.

In the months since that winter day, every time I looked at my five grandchildren, I worried for their future, for what we should secure for that future. In those months, I mulled over the idea of standing for Parliament as an Independent candidate in my local seat of Hume in New South Wales. I knew that now, more than ever, was the time to stand up, not stand back. I wouldn’t think twice about heading off on a journey for three or four months, so why would I not give up such time for the future of my grandchildren?

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but what worthwhile challenge ever is? I would be standing in a seat that had been Liberal (that means conservative in Australian politics) for nearly half a century. I’d be challenging a cabinet minister, Angus Taylor, our Minister for Energy. A man known for being rather reluctant to take meaningful action on climate change, and a man strangely less than enthusiastic about renewable energy.

Huw Kingston at his mountain camp in the Dolomites, Italy. — As an adventurer, Huw says he wouldn’t have thought twice about going away for three or four months. As an environmentalist, his conscience urged him to do more to tackle climate change for the sake of his grandchildren. Photos: Courtesy of Huw Kingston

Huy Kingston in a sea kayak near Gallipoli, Turkey. — As an adventurer, Huw says he wouldn’t have thought twice about going away for three or four months. As an environmentalist, his conscience urged him to do more to tackle climate change for the sake of his grandchildren. Photos: Courtesy of Huw Kingston

I flew from India home to Australia, to the start-line of another journey. As an Independent, I began from a zero base—no funding and no team. It is always uplifting when people believe in you and what you stand for and I was honored when people jumped on board. Some had been friends for decades, others I’d never met. The team grew, some shekels came in, strategies were planned. I criss-crossed the diverse, 300-kilometer-long Hume electorate, trying to get my face, name and policies in front of over 100,000 voters.

In a shock result, the Liberals returned to power with a slim majority. It seemed that we as a people, as a nation, had sold our children’s future down the river.

It was bloody hard work, but fun was had too. I’d had a wine barrel painted up with pink pigs, and my makeshift ‘Pork Barrel’ regularly appeared at candidate debates and elsewhere. I rode it on a cargo bike behind the Prime Minister in front of Parliament House as he explained his budget to the media. It was a photo bomb recognized as one of the images of the 2019 election.

The sitting MP was rattled by my little campaign, and it was fascinating to see politics in action.

Huw Kingston, jumping for joy during the campaign. — Huw jumps for joy (and the cameras) during the campaign. Photo: Roy Meuronen

It was widely expected his Liberal government would be beaten by Labor (Australia’s centre-left party), but, in a shock result, the Liberals returned to power with a slim majority. It seemed that we as a people, as a nation, had sold our children’s future down the river.

Locally, Angus Taylor retained his seat with little change to his vote. I came in third (of seven candidates) behind the two major parties—although this was a solid result from a first-time candidate with no party backing in a system favoring the party duopoly.

The re-elected member for Hume and now Minister for Energy AND Emissions Reduction, continues to deny the true trajectory of Australia’s carbon emissions, and continues to believe fossil fuels are the future.

But there were many positives as a result of my standing. I’d met hundreds of incredible people: Farmers involved in regenerative agriculture, communities reducing plastic pollution and protecting wildlife, organizations working in the areas of mental health and homelessness, companies building solar and wind farms.

Huy Kingston hands out polling flyers on election day. — Huw took to the campaign trail with gusto. Photos: Roy Meuronen

Huy Kingston at a polling station on election day. — Huw took to the campaign trail with gusto. Photos: Roy Meuronen

My wife Wendy took on the campaign with a fiery enthusiasm that at times took even me by surprise. It was a special journey together when so often, on my expeditions, I’ve headed off alone—with her support, but not her company.

I’d spent more time in a collared shirt during the election campaign than I ever had before. With the election out of the way, I reckoned a river journey was still a possibility before all was dry again; a desert campaign of sorts.

And I was very proud to be the only candidate out of some 1,500 across Australia to use recyclable, waterproof cardboard signage amid a sea of some 400,000 plastic corflute signs. I can only hope that in proving these could stand up to six weeks of the campaign in all weathers, it might lead to change in a world where we have no choice but to massively reduce our plastic usage.

The only cardboard signs in the Australian election. — Conscious of the need to reduce plastic, Huw opted to use recyclable, waterproof cardboard signage for the duration of his campaign. He was the only candidate to do so. Photo: Courtesy of Huw Kingston

As my campaign proceeded, I looked enviously westward into the deserts of central Australia. Not one but two massive rain events had hit Far North Queensland early in the year and, over the following months, floodwaters soaked southward for thousands of kilometers.

All these watery tentacles ultimately lead to Lake Eyre, Australia’s lowest point and largest lake. Kati Thanda, as it’s known to the Arabana traditional owners, rarely holds water; the desert drinking up any flow as it heads toward the lake. For a few years, I’d had a plan for when this rare event might next take place and now it was happening; the desert rivers were flowing.

I’d spent more time in a collared shirt during the election campaign than I ever had before. With the election out of the way, I reckoned a river journey was still a possibility before all was dry again; a desert campaign of sorts. After the fun and games of the previous months, it seemed a perfect way to reset my compass.

Huw Kingston paddling in the desert of South Australia. — Huw kayaking along the Warburton River—a much needed trip after his political debut. Photos: Huw Kingston

Huw's camp above the Warburton River in South Australia. — Huw kayaking along the Warburton River—a much needed trip after his political debut. Photos: Huw Kingston

I drove west, kayak strapped to the roof of a vehicle now stripped of campaign livery. I crossed the ailing Murray River at Mildura and on into South Australia. My campaign had included deep concern for the Murray-Darling; Australia’s longest river system and one in some peril. Cry me a river indeed.

My plan for the paddle was pretty ballsy. Like the election campaign that preceded it, I didn’t achieve the ultimate goal but again, like the campaign, it was so worthwhile. Eight days on the muddy waters of the Warburton River; just me and countless thousands of birds who somehow knew the river was flowing, who somehow knew the fish were breeding—all rather unlike that Indian waterway months earlier.

My career in politics might be on hold for now, but I still believe there is a climate for change. There has to be.

Huw Kingston

Writer and environmentalist Huw Kingston has spent over 30 years undertaking long, human-powered journeys in wild places, and has long been involved campaigning against single-use plastics.