This will be a true test for the Rudd Government. On the one hand you have a leading academic and RBA board member saying don’t rush into an ETS, while on the other you have former Rock Singer now Environment minister saying ‘bugger the economy’.
In an unprecedented move Reserve Bank of Australia board member and world renown authority on the economics of cliamate change Professor Warwick McKibben has called on the Rudd government to delay the start of Australia’s emissions Trading Scheme.
“Professor McKibbin [pictured] said today the Prime Minister should not act before Australia knows what commitments other countries will make to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at international talks in December 2009.
“There is no way that at Copenhagen there can be a firm commitment on abatement because the US administration, whoever it is, won’t have the people in place to negotiate a rules-based system,”
Hang on, the whole basis of the Treasury modelling was on the fact that there would be a global agreement reached at Copenhagen. Now just a week after the release of the modelling that premise looks shot.
The good professor is concerned about that a hastily implemented scheme will be out of kilter with the what the rest of the world does or does not decide to do.
But that does not worry Australia’s Environment minister Peter Garrett [pictured below] who once again has proven that he is off with the fairies.
“THE environment is bigger and more important than the economy, even in the midst of the worst financial crisis the world has seen for several decades.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett expressed that view to a meeting of prominent environmentalists in Melbourne last night, saying the economy was a “subset” of the environment.
Thats a conundrum, who should Kevin Rudd take his advice from on this one, the Rock Star or the Professor. Daaahhh, I wonder?
Have Your Say.
From ‘Planet Ark’ 4/11/08
Headline:
Australia Carbon Scheme Should Omit Agriculture - Report
http://tinyurl.com/5pu7q6
But it means charging the agriculture sector for their “pollution”.
Maybe these types should quit eating good Australian produce, and only consume Chinese or other Asian food.
Why is it that the Rudd Government (or maverick Rudd himself!) continually needs to rush into EVERYTHING, and commit Australian taxpayers’ to schemes that could damage the economy irreparably for generations to come?
Global Warming / Climate Change = Global Tax
Let’s debate the issue properly. I’d like to see a debate between scientist David Evans v Peter Garrett. The only debate the media covers is so one sided, just whether or not the ETS should be introduced sooner rather than later.
Climate change is a natural phenomenon. There is much scientific research indicating that the climate is actually cooling right now – hence the terminology change from ‘global warming’ to ‘climate change’.
I am all for the development of greener technologies in manufacturing, cleaner air and water, but at the demise of our economy? There will be no quality of life to leave our children!
He’ll listen to whichever gives him the best slogan !