nuclear-news

It’s the climate, stupid – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

It’s the climate, stupidBy Amanda McKenzie

ABC News 9 Dec 08 It seems that many, including the government, no longer believe it is “realistic” to take the action necessary to prevent substantial shifts in the global climatic system. However, failing to take adequate action to mitigate climate change will impose substantial economic and societal costs, as well as locking Australia out of the benefits of the emerging green economy.

The speculation in the media this week is that the government will set an emission reduction target of 5 to 15 per cent based on a global greenhouse gas concentration stabilisation of 550 parts per million (ppm), substantially higher than what the world’s scientists recommend.

What does this target mean for Australia? In a recent interview on the ABC’s Lateline, Professor Ross Garnaut, the government’s climate change advisor, acknowledged that on the balance of probabilities, allowing global emissions to reach 550 ppm would all but destroy the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu, the Alpine region and do immense damage to the Murray-Darling Basin.

The risk to the economy from this scenario is substantial……………………………..Cloudy Germany is now is a world leader in renewable energy exporting their technology to the world. Businesses have capitalised on the new regulatory environment with turnover in the renewable energy industry increasing nearly fourfold since 2000 and jobs doubling between 2004 and 2007. Jobs in renewable energy in Germany are expected to increase from 250,000 to 710,000 by 2030.

Australia would be wise to follow the example and vision of these countries and disregard the outdated dichotomy of “jobs vs environment”. Our economy, particularly in Australia, is fundamentally intertwined with the health and capacity of our environment. To fail to recognise this will see Australia suffer from substantial climate change impacts as well as fail to capitalise on the emerging green economy – leaving Australia to share the wins of a diminishing pool of traditional industries.

It’s the climate, stupid – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

December 9, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized