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Garnaut Review and other Media Rumblings

October 2, 2008 @ 22:30 By Gavin Webber 3 Comments

The news is full of it, literally!

The full blown Garnaut Climate Change Review was released on Tuesday, and every jumped up, no good polluting industry with a vested interest in discrediting or delaying the final report are hard at it, and the media is just lapping it up and feeding it as crap to the Australian public. This excerpt from an article in the Australian today titled “Doubts raised over Ross Garnaut’s carbon emission targets“, listed a few opinions about whether Professor Garnaut has the right emission targets going forward. He listed that 450ppm CO2e is hard to achieve (of course it’s hard, but worth doing), and a more realistic target of 550ppm would probably be accepted by world leaders. He did emphasis that 450ppm was a better outcome (no flies on you, Prof).

I personally believe that if we are to halt runaway climate change, we need to be aiming at 350ppm Co2e, which is definitely do-able, however it would encroach on our societies existing lifestyle. Having said that, if I can reduce our families footprint, and many of my readers are attempting similar lifestyle changes, then everyone else can give it a damn good try. However, that will not happen unless it is legislated. The majority of people will not change their behaviours unless forced to by law.

The biggest insult in this article comes at the very end. It made me so angry that such a two-faced statement could be printed. It is the coal industry’s reaction to the whole trading proposal.

“Meanwhile, the coal industry is concerned about a recommendation, buried in Professor Garnaut’s report, to more than double the levy on coal producers to boost funding on research into clean coal technologies.

The industry is already collecting $1 billion over 10 years from 2006 to fund demonstration projects for the carbon capture and underground storage technology that strips emissions from coal-fired power stations. But Professor Garnaut said this amount was relatively low, and the industry should contribute about $2.5 billion over the next decade.

Australian Coal Association executive director Ralph Hillman said: “The coal industry is already making a fair and reasonable contribution.””

All I can say is, that the coal and coal based power industry are indeed contributing more than their fair share by being Australia’s biggest polluters, with no foreseeable end in site. Carbon Capture and Sequestration is a pipe dream in my lifetime. Stop all the bullshit, get on and tax the biggest polluters, and make it so hard for them to make a buck, that they have to invest in renewable energy, or go broke.

Now that would be a fair and reasonable contribution to our civilisation, Mr Hillman!



Now in other news, it looks like our new Greens Senator representing WA has some common sense and some balls. Senator Scott Ludlam has stated in his first parliamentary address that “The fossil-fuel economy is a cancer“. Well, you won’t get any argument from this humble greenie Senator, I am with you all the way. Now if you can just convince some of your fellow elected officials, that what you say is true, then you might just create a groundswell of good deed, forward thinking politicians. Alas, mon ami, I will not hold my breath, waiting for that day. A good first address, keep up the excellent work. Maybe some of the senate will stay awake long enough to catch on!

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Filed Under: activisim, Carbon Dioxide, climate change, Government, Media

← Australia Can be a Green Super Power The Beauty of Renewable Energy →

About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. Teena says

    October 3, 2008 at 15:11

    Gav, I completley agree. Make a legislation and common society will abide the law.

    Maybe if there was a common australian voice during public parliment chat times or even a referendum (geez cant get spelling right today but you mean what I know hehehe) I truely believe that if we the australian public yell long enough then surely someone has to hear us and the general concern australians have for climate change/environmental issues.
    You know how much I can’t stand Fatcats, why can’t there be a like-minded Fatcat that actually cares about the average australian’s opinion and not their fat wallets? Are we a democratic society or do we just sit back and let the Fatcats make decisions for us?

    Reply
  2. Julie says

    October 3, 2008 at 18:06

    I think all greenies should be paying attention to Senator Ludlum – I’ve met him once (briefly, at Green Drinks) and I think he’s going to be one of the movers and shakers in the future. He’s passionate and knowledgeable and not in the usual style of politicians.

    Reply
  3. belinda says

    October 4, 2008 at 18:42

    I agree with you totally but have to admit my hopes for systemic change are getting more and more remote.

    Politicians listen to the public … and basically what some of the more recent opinion polls on this subject suggest is that most of the public seem to be saying is “take this problem away, and make sure the solution doesn’t cost us much”.

    Until as a nation we are willing to take on our responsibilities for change personally, as you have, and recognise we will loose in the future if we penny pinch on these issues now I am finding the path into a habitable future very hard to see.

    Kind Regards
    Belinda

    Reply

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About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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