Just Sign it Already

World leaders met in Nairobi overnight at the UN climate change conference to discuss ways to combat climate change and global warming. This time around, the meeting was meant to have an increased sense of urgency after the recent spate of natural disaster’s and unusual weather patterns. Hurricane Katrina devastated the southern coast of the USA, a tsunami crashed through Indonesia and glaciers now float off the coast of New Zealand. This week alone it snowed in drought stricken Ballarat, giant waves crashed into the Hawaiian coast after an underwater earthquake and Sydney weather all too closely resembled Melbourne’s: rainy, windy and sunny all within an hour.

Following the meeting, Australia’s environmental position remained the same as the US (surprise, surprise): we’ll sign the Kyoto Protocol when the developing world has the same targets that we do. Additionally, our main argument against signing is an economic one; cutting back on fossil fuels and limiting emissions will cost jobs. Both seem to be paper thin diversions at a time when the earth is becoming increasingly angry with its treatment.

As a country that aspires to be one of the foremost developed nations, we should be leading by example and set a goal to have the lowest emissions and greenest policies. Understandably the pollution levels of larger nations like the US, China and India have a greater impact on global warming that we do – but we should be operating on principle here and making for the moral high ground. Kofi Annan said yesterday that the challenge of global warming is suffering from a “frightening lack of leadership” and that, to me, creates a huge opportunity for Australia to step forward.

As far as economic impact goes, we have clearly relied on resources for much of our history for economic growth, blessed with an abundance of mine-able commodities. One day though, those reserves will be exhausted and we will need to rely on the skills and creativity of our people. The consequences of global warming merely bring forward the date on which we need to evolve our markets. We’re an entrepreneurial society, full of innovators and the minute that the government gives the go-ahead (and some incentives) new businesses harnessing green technology will spring up. This phenomenon is already being demonstrated in NSW (which has a emission reduction scheme) by companies such as Easy Being Green who are actively trading (and profiting from) carbon credits with corporations who need to meet emission targets. The net effect is that reducing pollution becomes financially attractive to businesses – the only way that the majority is going to get onboard.

So, Mr. PM let me summarise for you. There is no such thing as clean coal. Sure you can catch the CO₂ and pump it under ground, but how long will that be viable for (and is it even a solution)? The coal lobbies are pouring poison in your ear and you’re falling for it. The economy will be fine, if you have the boldness to spend some of your 15 billion dollar surplus on new energy technologies, re-training our mine workers and encouraging the innovators in Australia to create new green businesses. My Administration would act before the Great Barrier Reef disappears and Tasmania becomes a diving attraction – what will yours do?