Alison Jane,

Have you noticed that JBowyer does not deny not knowing about the things I have listed?

The ongoing difficulty with climate change debate is that it is too easy to lose sight of the objective. This article is clearly well researched but in avoiding some important facts, it gets no closer to what is the most appropriate action for Australia. That the UK is increasingly using renewables is because they are increasingly using biomass and that supplies 7% of UK's energy needs. A major part of that biomass is the burning of wood pellets - trees cut down in the Americas and shipped at huge cost to the UK. The biomass is well subsidised. When the world is demanding more trees be planted, where is the sense in this? Similarly, the author here fails to mention nuclear plants in the UK.
In respect to our coal exports, can anyone advise where China and India - both expanding coal powered plants - will source better, cleaner coal if Australia stop exporting? Unless we address these simple questions, the debate increasingly gets muddied.

yes, the UK does use biomass.

But the UK reduced its greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Does not all of its renewable energy sources count towards this reality?

While the UK now has some policy difficulties coming up with goal of cleaner energy mix, i am sure they will get there because they have POLITICAL WILL AND SOCIAL CONSENSUS on the issue

That's great about wind and solar being so cheap beats me why sewage farms and aluminium smelters don't sign up for it exclusively. If it's so cheap why do they still need subsidies and quotas? The UK is now dangerously dependent on mostly imported gas. Ditto Singapore and underwater electricity cables.

If it turns out that Aussie asbestos isn't as bad as the other fellow's then we can export that as well. Australia is not alone in hypocrisy about talking green while exporting millions of tons of carbon since Canada is facing the same accusation with tar sands. International carbon pricing will be discussed in Glasgow in November with perhaps the EU27 kickstarting it. The trouble is if China, US, India and Australia don't go along with it. Back to the drawing board.

Chris Lewis & Bluebottle,

Has either of you thought that it is now too late to do anything to stop continued global warming, which is the cause of adverse climate change?

No! It's a failure of Leadership! Our energy policy or lack thereof is is down to both the lack of leadership and green tails that wag dogs. And because permanently partisan politicians have put everything else ahead of the national interest!! And an over-reliance on foreign investment and moribund privatisation!

Then avoid what absolutely needs to be done in the name of BS sovereign risk.

Simply put, a good businessman or Leader knows when to cut the losses and head for the exit!

And we needed to get out of our absurd dependence on carbon polluting, fossil fuel yesterday!

And transition to, carbon-free, safe, clean and vastly cheaper nuclear energy!

All that prevents that is tin-eared recalcitrant politicians with their own self-interest agendas! And mountains of humbug, BS and rank incompetence!

We've been sleepwalking toward a disastrous date with destiny and lead by the blind who refuse point blank to change away from our absurd ultra reliance on coal! These folk are our employees and need to be told, you'refired!

But like all recalcitrant incompetents, will cling to assumed power for as long as possible, blame-shifting at every turn! And promise anything to anyone (non-core promises) just to retain control and the status quo! The more it changes the more it stays the same!

Understand this much, doing what you've always done while expecting a different result is the definition of insanity!
Alan B.