Atman. The the planet is warming (some regions more so than others), human activity has significantly (but certainly not entirely) contributed to that warming, and we should make an effort to do something about it – not so much for the present (albeit that itself is important) but more so for the future. If that makes me a ‘warmer’, so be it. I do not think that makes me an ‘alarmist’.

Australian droughts: There is mounting evidence to suggest that some recent droughts have been exacerbated by human induced 'climate change' (AGW). One thing is certain; ever since we have been collecting and recording climate data here in Australia, the climate (and climatic regions) has changed .Please, don’t accept my word – go and have a look at the latest report by the CSIRO and BOM. If you don’t believe them, there is nothing I can say to alter your view.

Greenpeace has an alarming message, we should at least listen, preferably with an open mind. Nevertheless, I don’t believe in their hard-line or ‘dark green’ (as opposed to ‘light green’) strategies to address some of the issues. Sometimes, more can be achieved by negotiating a common response – otherwise there will only be winners and losers.

Forget the semantics and metaphors; I see it’s confusing and distracting.

I have tried to explain elsewhere: the climate changes – by natural processes, it always has and always will. However, in the spate of 150 years or so, humanity has released vast amounts of energy into the Earth System creating an ‘energy imbalance’, this is not natural. The Earth System, in response, is trying to equilibrate. In doing so, we witness and observe some rather disturbing, if not, more frequent ‘extreme weather events’, amongst other things.

As I understand, the IPCC did not make such a recommendation. Perhaps you mean the UNFCCC? If so, I did not think that was their recommendation anyway. Don't forget, the UNFCCC is made up of so many member states, they have to all agree on the make-up and the wording of any final 'recommendation'.

I cannot accept 'nothing to see here - move along' as the only way forward (past) this issue.

It is simply crushing to me that our commonwealth government suffers from the same inertia as our US buddies... How delightful to be in bed with them, again!

K Rudd was correct when he said the “great moral challenge” ... he was just wrong when he failed to deliver any change whatsoever.

If the pollsters rang me i'd be completely unable to decide between the incompetence of either major party.