Scientists Demand Climate Action From Australia PM

Rob Taylor, PlanetArk 29 Sep 08;

CANBERRA - Top Australian climate scientists on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calling for courageous moves to tackle global warming, as a poll showed economic upheaval sapping public support for the climate fight.

The centre-left government's climate change adviser, Ross Garnaut, will on Tuesday deliver his final report to Rudd on how the government should introduce a planned emissions trading scheme slashing Australia's carbon output by 2050.

But with Garnaut having already suggested middle-of-the-road options for a 10 percent emission cut by 2020, protecting the US$1 trillion energy-reliant economy from much upheaval, climate scientists said deeper reductions were needed.

"It's just a message of 'take the deepest cuts possible' because the science tells us that anything less than that will commit us to dangerous climate change," said Matthew England, a spokesman for the group of 16 scientists.

Australia, already the world's driest inhabited continent, is expected to be among the rich nations hardest-hit by climate change, with scientists warning storms, long-running droughts and water shortages will become more frequent and intense.

But Garnaut's cautious approach and signs the government is preparing to compensate big-polluting companies to protect them from the immediate impact of emissions trade pointed to Rudd's favouring of a less ambitious scheme, England said.

"There's deep concern. We are not seeing the rate of change in government and government policy that we need to address the problem," he said.

The carbon trading system will cover 75 percent of the economy, and 1,000 of Australia's biggest companies, with hefty initial subsidies for big polluting power generators and cement companies to help them adapt.

In an interim report this month, Garnaut recommended carbon be sold for an initial A$20 (US$16) a tonne from 2010, with only marginal increases for two years to help business adjust.

His final report, based on official Treasury modelling, will spell out the economic impact of doing nothing, as well as practical emission cuts of 10 percent versus "aspirational" 25 percent cuts by 2020.

Most environment groups favour a tougher target to help curb Australia's emissions, which are the world's fourth highest in per capita terms.

A new poll, meanwhile, showed Australians were becoming less concerned about climate change after a fortnight of international financial market ructions and steep stock market declines.

Taking action to stop climate change itself dropped from first place to fifth as a foreign policy goal, overtaken by action to strengthen the economy and guard jobs, the respected Lowy Institute poll found.

While respondents still considered global warming and drought as threats, just over half were unwilling to pay an extra A$10 a month for greener electricity not based on burning dirty coal.

"Concern over economic issues has risen at the expense of the environment," Lowy Executive Director Allan Gyngell said. (US$1=A$1.20)

(Editing by Michael Perry)