In an encouraging development, the Federal government has distanced itself, albeit slightly, from the US government's stance on greenhouse gas emission control.
Senator Campbell said Australia did not agree with the US stance against future greenhouse gas targets nor its claim that economic growth and technology innovations will be the only answer to reducing heat-trapping emissions."The difference between the US and Australia is that we are prepared to engage in a new agreement [post Kyoto] as long as it is comprehensive," Senator Campbell said from London, on his way home from the UN conference in Buenos Aires.
The evidence of the reality of climate change must be overwhelming for the government to go against the US. The announcement has to be welcomed after Australia's 'head in the sand' approach on the issue.
Or maybe it's John W Howard again thinking about his legacy as he contemplates retirement?
Whatever the reason, the effects of climate change are becoming evident. Receding ice at the poles, bleaching of coral, and more frequent violent weather events are a few of the more obvious symptoms.
I'm not optimistic that much will be done, despite some international good intentions, before the problem becomes critical. Economics goes against using alternative energy sources which are more expensive than simply burning fossil fuels.
The price difference will increase if the use of alternaive energy sources starts a decline in the consumption of conventional fuels.
In the current conservative ascendancy, it's hard to see present governments telling the population that the end is nigh for their gas guzzling 4WDs, or the price of electricity is going up by 50% to encourage more efficient use.
I doubt if much will be done about green house emissions before the effect of climate change is blatantly obvious and starts to effect the life of the average punter. Perhaps it will be higher insurance premiums, or some natural catastrophic event that can only be attributed to climate change.
Only then will governments act. We can only hope it happens before the effects are irreversible.
