I find it funny that so many members of the environmental movement think it would be better to take resources from where the costs of production are lesser per unit of output, and move them to where the costs of production are greater per unit of output, thus increasing both the use of natural resources and poverty at one stroke.

By the way Leigh, the globe is not warming and all the computer models that predicted so are wrong. It’s getting cooler.

Wing Ah Ling
So please explain how the last 10 years were the hottest on record? and significantly hotter than the previous 10 years according to the Global Land-Ocean Temperature Index from NASA.
And why the graph is clearly showing a rise over the last 120 years.

"Australia's largest-ever engineering project would spur social and economic development and benefit the cities and rural communities of Australia's southeast for generations. Without fanfare or media attention, Australia forgot to acknowledge a significant moment in our nation's history."
The Snowy Mountains scheme was an economic disaster. A nation crying out for development after WW2 blew massive resources on constructing dams, tunnels and irrigation canals. Irrigation farmers were never charged the full resource costs of supplying their farms with water resulting in crazy irrigation practices and massive environmental damage.

I sympathise with the use of the Snowy symbol, in part because the full cost represented about one eighth of GDP in the year the scheme was launched: that was ambitious! Yes, we do need that kind of thinking again.

But we could get our language right? Climate change isn't a 'new challenge'. It has faced both indigenous and more recent human beings on this continent from the beginning. And who are these 'climate change advocates', and what are they advocating? This is sloppy stuff.

Remember that the Snowy scheme took the best part of 25 years to complete. If we are going to spend this kind of money over that kind of time it would be good to have a much better grasp of what actually is happening with our climate than we have at the moment. After all, the steady growth in carbon dioxide production continues, but global average temperature doesn't seem to be following suit. Are you sure that you know what is going on? If you are — why?

NIMBYism would prevent the Snowy Mountains Scheme from being build today but in hindsight we are grateful it was built. That pesky rainfall decline in spite of Global Cooling means that the scheme may have a new role as a giant battery. When wind farms are going flat out electricity could be used to pump water from the hydro outfall back up to the lake. Use as needed in dry or less windy weather.

A slight problem with Flannery's idea is that dry rock geothermal has so far turned out to be a dud. I think he hit the nail on the head when he said population should move to be near the water, not vice versa. Another difference relative to the Snowy Mountains Scheme is that the return on investment or speed of payback will now be inadequate by former benchmarks. I suspect we now need to go the opposite way to grand projects by going small scale and local. The capital may be easier to find that way.

Coolists I hope you will have your explanations ready after the El Nino summer.

"climate change advocate" - one who advocates for climate change.

Redundant, the climate has always changed.

The author seems new to the idea "Today Australia faces new challenges: our climate is changing."

It's warming now, it may cool later, whatever happens we have to adapt.

People touting various solutions should all have their motivations and source of funding examined. Just in case they are making money out of it for Speaking Engagements, participating in conferences, selling books, getting research grants etc, we should weigh that up when we hear their interesting opinions.