The problem for Truss is not that great. He simply has to assure delegates that Australia’s contribution to global warming is so small (~1.6% of global greenhouse gases) that it makes no difference to global warming or sea level rise which is likely to sea the drowning of several inhabited Pacific Islands over the next 30 years.

Of course if an informed delegate points out that Australia is the largest coal exporter in the world and those exports, when burnt, contribute some 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Warren Truss might have some difficulty. He would then have to admit that his government firmly believes that competitive advantage and economic growth are much more important than Australia’s contribution to global warming – a truth far less easy to defend.

Truss might contend that those affected by rising sea level can always move to other islands. After all, not all Pacific islands are going to drown beneath rising seas – at least not this century. And in any case the National Interest (economic growth at all costs) is so much more important. Warren is the ideal Australian Delegate. He is good with words and, more importantly, a denier of the science of climate change and its effects. What more could we ask for in a representative of our country?

Certainly from the point of view of the inhabitants of those Pacific Islands, the sea level is rising, but could it be that the islands are also sinking slowly. After all, they are situated in fairly close proximity to the fault line that runs down through the Pacific to New Zealand. One would assume that rising sea levels would also be a concern in low lying coastal areas of Australia which geologically is quite stable. This does not seem to have been the case.

According to N.O.A A. sea level is rising at 0.12 inches per year. This does not seem to account for the rate at which water levels are rising on those islands in the Pacific.

Pehaps it is time for the inhabitants to face reality and bale out instead of trying to do a "Canute" and command the water to stop rising, which of course it inevitably will.

David

I wonder if Thistlethwaite actually believes this bit of trash, or if he is just politicking?

If he believes it, he is just too lazy to research something before running off at the mouth. Recent satellite measurements have proven 96% of atolls are growing, as the do naturally, every where that the fish population that does the "earthwork" have not been decimated.

If he doesn't believe it, he is just another Gillard, lying for political advantage. Which ever, he has no right to represent anyone but the global warming conmen, as he is doing here.

I wonder if he asked his islanders how the population had grown on their island? How many fish they were taking, & what method they used?

Did he ask how much more water they were pumping from the small fresh water lens that all atoll residents depend on for their water? Well most depend on. I have visited atolls where they had clam shells around the drip line of the palms to catch & augment the fresh water supply. I did wonder at the time, if this water so gathered was just reducing the lens, shrinking from over population, now white mans medicines had increased the lifespan of the people.

It is this type of untruthful, [lying perhaps], or uninformed dumb rubbish, coming from a Parliamentary Secretary, that makes Labor so bad at governing, even themselves.

Matt Thistlethwaite's party might be out of office but they are still signing blank cheques on our behalf --how many billion$ would he like us to hand-out to the Pacific islands on account of AGW damages?

'I hope our Pacific neighbours understand that Warren Truss and Brett Mason do not speak for all Australians when they outline our Government's response to climate change. '

I certainly hope you don't get a chance Matt. You would be an embarassment as indicated by the electors not to long back. Hiding behind pseudo science to push your politcal bias defines everything wrong with politics today.

The actual increase in sea levels has been tracked by satellite for the past 20 years http://sealevel.colorado.edu/frontpage .. its 3.2 mm a year.. at that rate, assumes that rate continues, it will take several decades for our south sea islanders to notice anything, if they ever do.. as for the drought what the islanders need to do is have some scientist firmly declare that the lack of rain is "unquestionably" due to global warming and there is no possibility of rain again.. then the floods will start. Worked for us during the megadrought..