The Guardian 15 November, 2006
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Letters to the Editor
Act now on climate change
The major review on climate change handed to Prime Minister Tony Blair on October 30 by eminent British economist Sir Nicholas Stern, former World Bank chief economist, forecasts "catastrophic" changes unless urgent action is taken to tackle global warming.
Scientists have warned that changes are worse than expected and climate change is now considered by scientists together with a growing number of politicians and members of the general public as the most serious and urgent issue of our times.
Sir Nicholas estimates the cost of repairing the looming damage from climate change is a staggering $453 billion by 2050.
But against this, the bill for doing nothing is put at the mind boggling figure of $9,000 billion, more than the combined cost of both World Wars and the Great Depression!
We are heading for increases in average world temperatures of perhaps 2°C or 3°C, but they could reach 4°C to 5°C, well outside the area of human experience.
The prospects of flooding in some areas, droughts in others, the dying back of the Amazon rain forests and potential for thawing of the permafrosts was "frightening" says Mr Stern.
We have about 10-15 years to act decisively and avoid the huge costs of inaction.
Three policy strands are needed. Firstly to effect a global carbon trading scheme enforcing limits on greenhouse gas emissions and forcing high polluters to pay.
Secondly, encourage development of low-carbon technologies and government policies giving carrots to those who deliver them and sticks for those who don’t.
Thirdly, remove barriers to energy efficiency and make much wider use of solar and wind power.
But to enable these three policy strands to take effect we first need international agreements and primarily an international accord to stabilise levels of greenhouse gas emissions ranging from present levels around 450 and up to 550 parts per million.
Following the accord — the most important target would be to expand and unify regional carbon trading schemes to create a global market.
Sir Nicholas proposes doubling spending on research and development and giving more resources to poorer countries to help them compete.
His recommendations are intended to shape an international agreement to supersede the first phase of the Kyoto treaty ending in 2012, but starting some years before and including the US, China and India.
The Communist Party of Australia has given minimal attention to Global Warming so far, but must update our present policy and act on it immediately.
We could jointly call for Australia to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol and develop a national emissions trading scheme.
The Howard Government’s negative approach must be countered by mass protests, rallies, boycotts, blockades, letters to politicians, etc.
Some green power companies now offer wind or solar electricity with not a cent paid to the coal fired power industry.
Install solar panels on your roof and join those demanding more money spent on our railways and less on massive expansion of our main road systems and I could go on.
Dave Wenban
Sydney, NSW
A more important race
The day when many Aussie eyes were watching horses racing around Flemington, a far more important race was run in the USA. This was the elections which saw a massive rejection of the path of neo-cons (or as I call the US Junta) across The States.
The downward slope towards poverty is at least halted. Time will tell if the Dems will let it improve.
The new US House Majority leader, Ms Nancy Pelosi supports Stem Cell Research, a 50 percent rise in minimum wage, women’s rights to choose, biodiversity, civil rights, an end to indefinite detention of detainees, public eduction, animal welfare, comprehensive Medicare and unemployment benefits, mental health care, Kyoto decision on climate change, preservation of both terrestrial and marine environments, and subsidised pharmaceuticals.
She even supports gay marriage and calls the invasion of Iraq a total failure that was based on lies!
Yes Ms Pelosi accepts the label of being a liberal! Something our House Majority leader, John Howard certainly ain’t!
Lucian Weyland
Strathfield, NSW