But this, of course, was the most important news of the week. <gulp>:
Time running out on climate
Chris Hammer
February 22, 2008/the AGE
AUSTRALIA may need to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90% by 2050 as part of a massive global effort to avert the most devastating effects of climate change, the Rudd Government has been warned.
In an alarmingly pessimistic assessment of what is happening to the world, Canberra's chief adviser on climate change, Ross Garnaut, has declared that time is running out faster than almost anyone predicted.
Releasing his interim report, Professor Garnaut said existing targets for reducing greenhouse emissions may not be enough to save the situation.
"Australia should be ready to go beyond its stated 60% reduction target by 2050 in an effective global agreement that includes developing nations," Professor Garnaut said.
The veteran economist said inaction would be more costly than action, particularly for Australia, which would be "one of the most badly damaged of the developed countries if there is no effective mitigation".
But the Government, which came to power in November naming climate change among its top priorities, gave a guarded response to the report ?- welcoming it but not endorsing it.
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said the economist's report would be an "important input" to government policy. "We welcome Professor Garnaut's input
of course we will also be looking at other inputs, such as modelling from the Australian Treasury," she said.
Greens leader Bob Brown later lashed out at the Government's response, suggesting it may have fallen under the influence of the multibillion-dollar coal industry. "Penny Wong has reduced Ross Garnaut to an input. That sounds to me like the Rudd Government is subject to coal capture," he said.
The report increases pressure on the Government to set an ambitious emission reduction target this year for 2020, as well as for 2050. Professor Garnaut says that to have a 50-50 chance of limiting global temperature rises to two degrees ?- a target set by European countries ?- dramatic and immediate change would be required.
Global greenhouse gas emissions would need to peak in just two years' time and be less than half 2000 levels by 2050.
If the world moved to a system based on per capita emissions ?- a system Professor Garnaut says would be most acceptable to developing countries like China ?- Australia would need to cut its emissions by 90% to achieve the two-degree increase goal.
"That would be a difficult target to meet and there would be no point if it wasn't part of an international effort," he told the ABCs 7.30 Report last night. ...<cont>
http://www.theage.com.au/news/environment/time-running-out-on-climate/2008/02/21/1203467284213.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
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