"We don't have thousands packed in protest in one of our busiest streets. Nor do we have unemployment at a devastating 9%. We don't have widespread unease and violence, nor do we have an immanent fresh water crisis with no long term solution."

And one reason why we are in this enviable position is because we haven't thrown vast amounts of taxpayers' funds away on ridiculous 'green' schemes like California, Spain and the UK.

Yet.

But if you seriously think that 'climate change' is ever going to produce more refugees than, say, poverty, persecution and oppression, then I'd say it's YOUR mentality that's at fault, not Australia's.

Nice try Sophie, but "small island mentality, compassionless politics and aversion to change" have nothing to do with it. Perfectly rational engineers who have global outlooks, who welcome and indeed create change and who are as compassionate as the next person don't think that renewables can do the job. But of course playing the woman and not the ball is all part of left wing politics.

Germany is currently building 25 new coal-fired power stations. As the Europeans, who sponsored the Kyoto Protocol in the first place return to fossil fuels, we can all sit back and watch the IPCC declare more and more uncertainty about its climate predictions. That process has already started. The only question is how the IPCC will admit they were wrong without actually saying,"we were wrong".

Trevetts articles are arrogant - she knows everything; scientifically ignorant - mention wind and sun and all power issues are solved; exhibit a total theist attitude re climate change; exhibit a fanciful notion that Australia cutting CO2 emissions will solve anything at all; and are couched in language which is nasty and contemptuous.
But above all she is a bore.

What has co2 got to do with emission control. Co2 is invisible, Carbon is seen and measurable particles. This is what has got to go, namely fossil fuels.

Reading this article gives more than sufficient evidence as to NOT lower the voting age.

579. I assume, and hope, that your comment was strictly tongue in cheek. Please say it was or I might burst into tears, for there would be no hope at all for the human species.

Don't worry eyejaw, I have been studying the posts of 579, & I have come to the conclusion that the poster is one of 2 people.

It's either,
1/- Penny Wong, the only person I can think of, stupid enough to make such ridiculous outrageous claims, & expect anyone to pay any attention, or,

1/- Tony Abbott, having a bit of fun, making ridiculous statements in the guise of a greenie, to discredit the green movement.

Even Prince Charles couldn't come out with this tripe, so I think it will prove to be Penny. Her extreme superiority complex would fool her into believing some people will fall for it.

The missing person Has-been. You do not believe it is time to get off fossil fuels, You are the one that is always screaming about peak oil. Well here is your big chance, But you would rather push us back to the stone age. Has-been and Arjay what a team. Leave it the people that know, instead of calling everything crap.

The only small mindenedness seems to be the dogmas taught at universities that has led to people believing the kind of nonsense that has been written here. What is sending us broke is the gw myth which continues to produce human hating policies and produce totally unproductive jobs at the tax payer expense. Sophia is to young or does not want to remember the hysterical pseudo science scares of the last 50 years including the coming ice age. Instead we have more food, we still drive cars (the oil was to run out by 2000), live longer, higher wages and the usual changes in climate that only the 'éxperts ' failed to predict. The alarmist are shameless as the abundance of water and snow dropped on this planet over the last 2 years fit none of their corrupted models. You would think they would crawl in a hole but instead pedal more pseudo dogmas.

Sophia speaks about large numbers of supporters re the carbon tax. Why does she ignore the fact that when Turnbull was leader of the Liberals was boss the party was on a hiding to nothing. Since Ms Gillards lie the Liberals have constintently walloped Labour in the polls. Who is she trying to fool?

Another Chicken little."The sky is falling the sky is falling." All the while another scandle of climate gate cover ups is revealed through more leaked emails from the IPCC.

Israel's potenial attack on Iran is more of a concern.Iran has threatened to retaliate with 150,000 missiles.I knew they had a lot but not that many.NATO and the Western Neo Cons need to pull their heads in and stop these imperialistic wars that have us all on the path to destruction.

Believe that, you will believe any-thing arjay, Iran has been spruking loud and clear for weeks. It makes you wonder who the aggressor is. I believe it to be Iran. If you had to take sides it would have to be toward Israel. Iran has got the mouth, and that's about all.

[Deleted. Off-topic and abusive.]

This author is irremediably brainwashed. The odd thing is that she would never read the recently released Climategate 2.0 emails which shows the AGW bully boys for what they are. I'm sure the author would go on 'believing' regardless of any information which confirms that she and her ilk have been had.

I request the author not to bag out her fellow countrymen and women for their attitudes because, unbeknownst to her (apparently), it is her mind which is incredibly small, biased and closed and not those of her fellow Australians.

And can I say once again. Sophie, CO2 is not a pollutant. CO2 is not 'dirty'. Energy is not 'clean or 'dirty' its all part of Green mythmaking.

It does rather stick in the craw when an Arts/Law student apparently thinks that mentioning Beyond Zero Emissions is sufficient analysis of technological options for Australia's clean energy future, with no further thought required. Putting it in terms she might relate to, how about some due diligence?

"Not only does it make sense..." well, actually, no, it doesn't. Not if you're fair dinkum about maintenance of both a safe climate and modern civilisation.

http://bravenewclimate.com/renewable-limits/
http://bravenewclimate.com/2010/08/12/zca2020-critique/
http://bravenewclimate.com/2010/09/09/trainer-zca-2020-critique/
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nuclear-power-the-best-option-experts-say-20111129-1o4pn.html

Co2 is colourless, tasteless, invisible.
Carbon is black, measurable particles. Why persist in only referring to Co2, Carbon is the climate changing element. All due to the burning of fossil fuels. Your comments are selective, and lopsided.

Sophie -

I presume you are aware of the rudeness of many of the commenters on this site. I haven't been here for some time, and perhaps I won't be again for some time.

Thanks for your sensible comments.

Geoff Davies

Ahh, CENSORSHIP.

The greatest friend and Ally of TRUTH:

Too many HUMANS cause human-caused-climate-change

Hang in there Sophie! I can't believe the tirade of abuse that spews forth in forums of this sort when someone of obvious intelligence and insight dares to challenge any aspect of a conservative world view.

Its obvious that if there were fewer humans there would be no concerns about climate change.

OVERPOPULATION is the real issue. All the consequences Sophie attaches to climate change are, along with climate change, just consequences of overpopulation

Despite Sophie's "vat haf WE done" scare-mongering (as if she has some divine role to speak for we-EVERYONE) and despite the bullying of her attendant PANDERERS she has not proved climate change is a prime causation.

It can be easily shown that there is only one party (CENSORED) to blame for overpopulation. Instead of taking responsibility , what does this 'party' do?

You'all will have to guess because its apparent I'm NOT allowed to tell you.

PS. PANDER - Go between in clandestine amours, procurer, one who ministers to EVIL designs.

This article strangely reminds me of that LONE RANGER & TONTO joke.

Lone Ranger:The Indians are nigh upon US Tonto What are WE going to do about it.

Tonto: We have lots of ammo so lets fight our way out Lone Ranger.

Lone Ranger: I forgot to pack the ammo Tonto. WE are in trouble. What will the Indians do to US now?

Tonto: Whadya mean "WE" white man!