Climate crisis responses help inform electorate

Hobart Mercury
Tuesday 20/11/2007 Page: 25

THIS 2007 federal election is truly historic. Never - not even in wartime - have we had an issue that demands such universal, immediate and sustained attention as global warming. On Saturday we must choose parties and candidates who understand this crisis, know what needs doing and are ready to act immediately. A few years ago scientists thought that getting greenhouse pollution 60 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050 would halt rising temperatures, but they now say we need a binding 2050 reduction target of at least 80 per cent and probably 90 per cent.

Using some rubbery land clearing data, our Government claims we're meeting our modest Kyoto emission targets - but we're actually going backWards, fast. Australia's 2005 emissions from electricity generation and transport were more than 42 per cent above 1990 levels. So how do the parties respond to the scientific advice? Neither the Greens nor the Australian Democrats can form a government, but they can influence what happens in the Senate.

Both make a big issue of climate change. The Greens have a 2050 target to reduce emissions by 80 per cent below the 1990 level (together with a short-term 30 per cent target for 2020): the Democrats' target is 60-90 per cent. Both emphasise energy efficiency, boosting renewable energy and ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Neither party supports "clean coal" technology. The Greens want no more coal-fired power stations: the Democrats want coalmining countries to tax exports.

Labor will set a 60 per cent emissions reduction target for 2050, and has a 20 per cent renewable energy target for 2020 involving support for solar, wind and geothermal energy. It will immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and will begin a carbon trading scheme (putting a price on carbon emissions) by 2010. It offers incentives to improve water and energy efficiencies including solar power and hot water rebates. Other policies include a clean energy export strategy, a green car push and support for clean coal technology.

The Coalition believes radical climate action may damage future prosperity. It won't ratify Kyoto, opting instead for a technology based agreement with "aspirational" targets. It won't set an emission target till after the election: it will be "flexible" to take account of future developments. It plans a carbon trading scheme by 2011. Present rebates for solar electricity and water heating will be continued alongside development of clean coal technology. The National Water Initiative aims to tackle chronic water supply issues in the Murray-Darling basin by taking over management from the states.

As electors we can help determine how the climate challenge, the toughest political assignment in history, plays out. Thinking before voting has never been more important.

Peter Boyer, who began his career as a cadet journalist at the Mercury, has written extensively on science. He is now a freelance writer, publisher and illustrator - and one of a team of Tasmanians in Al Gore's Australian Climate Project team of volunteer presenters.