David, on radio you used the term "tipping point" which comes exclusively from James E Hansen Ph.D. Director
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Like most Americans he has a hidden agenda. He's an raving Evangelical who with other leading Evangelicals signed this statement on January 17, 2007:
"We believe that the protection of life on Earth is a profound moral imperative. It addresses without
discrimination the interests of all humanity as well as the value of the non-human world. It requires a new moral
awakening to a compelling demand, clearly articulated in Scripture and supported by science, that we must
steward the natural world in order to preserve for ourselves and future generations a beautiful, rich, and
healthful environment. For many of us, this is a religious obligation, rooted in our sense of gratitude for Creation
and reverence for its Creator.
We declare that every sector of our nation’s leadership—religious, scientific, business, political, and
educational—must act now to work toward the fundamental change in values, lifestyles, and public policies
required to address these worsening problems before it is too late. There is no excuse for further delays.
Business as usual cannot continue yet one more day. We pledge to work together at every level to lead our
nation toward a responsible care for creation, and we call with one voice to our scientific and evangelical
colleagues, and to all others, to join us in these efforts."

the man's a nutcase as is his science!

"Apparently temperatures have been falling since 1998 ... while emissions have been increasing."

yet

"The eight warmest years in the GISS record have all occurred since 1998, and the 14 warmest years in the record have all occurred since 1990". Straight from NASA Goddard Institute.
When records are used correctly you will see that the warming trend continues. This despite the sun being at a minimum after solar cycle 23 (Cycle 24 is still waiting for the morning coffee to kick in.). As well as the Southern Oscillation Index going from slightly negative to positive 20 in the last 12 months.

the Tom Nelson blog is a laugh. "But it warmed in the past". Why yes, yes it did. Congratulations for noticing.
Gray has a point about causing suffering. Making biofuels from crops is a stupid idea; Worthy of George Bush. Any plan where you want to have your cake and eat it too just won't work.

These sort of repetitious arguments are a breeding ground for ennui.

Even if you vehemently hate the thought that humans could have any sort of effect on global temperatures; you can't deny that there is a global push for renewables. Watch out for South Korea, they're gearing up to push the Germans to the back of the pack for Solar technology.
Little old Australia will still be arguing internally about "Economically realistic solutions" so that "Working Families" can buy another plasma TV.

Brendan Nelson will not be a leader effective until he acts like one.

The thing about Peter Costello is that he knows his maths and maybe revising his policies in a way that could economically help us move forward, through "honest" and intelligent "debate" rather than pledge us backwards.

Mr Nelson, you may want to consider the geo-history of Mars, a planet that oxydised, hence the red soils, the end of a livable earthly environment. Or imagine a more complex math, economically, the conflicts of those previous tribes living on Easter Island.... why did their own extinction occur? Is this not a trace left of a food-climate-mobility dynamic pointing to a political fate of interlating forces current on the macro view, in modern geo-Australiasia?

Wake up Mr Nelson. Your leadership is full of mischief, it has no substance. Ie: As a business man is it not true, that real "planning" is 80% of a good business market plan?

While it is good to see your shift (as a former Defense Minister) to a Global perspective through Climate Change, you still appear to have no understanding of the role Australia plays in the Pacific, the political need for Australia to play a role in the Pacific, and the politics of Climate Change.

For real, I suggest you speak to Mr Tim Fisher, our former National Party - Federal Trade Minister who was able to balance the need of "good" leadership with political solutions that assist ALL by helping to educate and match the promotion of possible resource transferances, in a co-operative and productive way.

As a doctor, Mr Neson, you need to speak (in person) to the civilians of the Small Island Pacific. Tell them they are not in our National frame. Tell them we will not do anything until the leaders of China and India do something "too"!

As All Australians, we need some authentic common ground.

The problem is greater enough without the satire.

As the author David Spratt wisely says "foresight or capacity", and I advocate a political-economic process that needs both.

http://www.miacat.com/

T.Set - with all due respect your figures are incorrect. Thanks to the work of Steven McIntyre (the guy who also proved the hockey stick curve to be incorrect) the NASA figures have since been revised and most of the hottest temps are now attributed to the 1930s. Not only have the global temps been dropping since 1998 the oceans have been cooling in a similar fashion.
It is not surprising that countries like Germany and South Korea would be leading the charge in renewable energy systems as neither country has any natural coal, gas or oil - unlike Australia.

"There’s one iron law of global warming one can’t avoid: if we keep burning fossils fuels and pouring carbon emissions into the sky for long enough, eventually the climate will run away from the human capacity to control its trajectory. Then life will become unliveable for most people and most species."

This is a most extraordinary claim. And extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Evidence, please?

Janama

A point well made. I was under the impression that the relevant changes due to Steven McIntyre effected "warmest on record" years for the United States only. Do you have any information about this? I am coming up with not much and my man on the ground at ANU is uncontactable.

Also an excellent point regarding existing natural resources. However Australia is abundant in solar and "hot rock". Unlike South Korea and Germany, yet they still persue these areas.