It's time to dip a toe into-the rising water

Geelong Advertiser
Friday 2/2/2007 Page: 19

THE Queen Mary turns very slowly. In this case the old ship is the Federal Government and industry who, together, are still only making slight directional changes in their response to the heated issue of global warming and climate change.

The persistent, collective sitting on hands attitude was adopted as scientists, lobby groups and environmentalists continued to argue that the Earth's surface and atmosphere have been hotting up since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Today the world's leading body of climate scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will release its fourth report outlining the scientific view. It will forecast global temperature rises by 2100 of between 2C and 4.5C and a rising of sea levels by 43cm and up to 80cm over the next 300 years.

Prime Minister John Howard has, of late, indicated that he is aware that climate change is becoming the big ticket item but now his government needs to be far more decisive. Despite the enormous effect former presidential candidate Al Gore has had globally with his film warning of the damage climate change has already done, George W. Bush is in no hurry to react in any positive way.

Australia has to cease being a follower of the United States on this particular issue. The US and Australia are the only two countries which failed to sign the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse emissions. It seems the cringe factor is still within us and we run the risk of being left behind if more affirmative action isn't taken.

Other northern hemisphere countries, particularly Germany, are racing ahead with their research and development of the technology to counter climate change, to cut emissions by industry and to search for effective and cheaper power sources. Wind farm technology is high on the agenda.

It's time for Australia to knuckle down and do the same. An entirely new economy is there for the taking if the required effort is put in. If not, the best we'll be able to do is import new systems and an opportunity to contribute significantly to emission reduction and at the same time be at the forefront of the new wav will be lost.