Lexi,
You still have not answered why you, and the PM, label CO2 as a polutant. It is and essential element of life.

The worlds climate has always changed but it is not fact that we humans have any influence on the changes. There are some things that we have no influence over. Tides, earthquakes, volcanos are some and climate is another. I will change my opinion when it is proven that we influence climate.

Certainly the over population of the world is a problem. A dramatic drop in birthrate was achieved in Iran by education and contrception. I suggest that those with concerns about over population look at the Iran situation and we should take note. Google Iran birthrate should find the details.

A carbon dioxide tax in Aus will NOT lower the world tempwerature or even locally. But the costs will effect everyone. It is stupid.

Lexi, I really can't believe you would pay any attention to anything that bought & paid for hack Garnaut produced.

Then I'm afraid your predigests are showing on the deforestation bit. Recent studies using satellite mapping has shown that there are considerably more trees in Oz than there were at the time of white settlement.

Much natural grassland is being taken over by woody weeds, & stupid anti clearing laws, passed to buy green votes have prevented land owners keeping previously productive land in use.

With the loss of the aboriginal fire stick, & laws preventing white man fire stick, previously open woodlands have become chocked forests, of use to neither man or beast. They no longer support native wildlife, that is accustomed to woodland, not thicket.

With this stupidity I can no longer let trees grow on my property, then choose which I want to keep, which to use, & which to clear, as once they reach a certain size they somehow become the property of some fool public servant.

Nothing gets above a couple of feet now, & it's the fault of greenie ratbags, & lefty politicians trying to buy their vote. Thank god the people of NSW, & hopefully Qld, & the whole country have had enough of dictatorial greenies.

It appears that Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party are so desperate to win at any cost that they will even solicit Labor votes as a preference to grant Tony Abbott his wish to be PM

Lexi, or is it Foxy in disguise. Boy is that the pot calling the kettle black, or what!

>>Surely you're aware of the fact that all over the world the
pressure of human population and its technologies is devastating natural ecosystems.

So why is it that the smallest polluter wants to be first to act?

>> simply do your own research beginning with the recently
released - Professor Ross Garnaut's Report.

I heard somewhere that RG has a degree in Paleontology?(if that's how it's spelt)

Do you take your sick car to the dentist to have it checked out, or do you go to an expert mechanic?

Now if this is the case, how then can anyone take this guy seriously?

Belly>>If both do not sit down and out flank the greens together we have no politicians in Canberra only fools

Here here!

Hasbeen you are right on the money with your last post.

Since the introduction of anti clearing laws we have seen vast areas of land become 'untouched', as opposed to 'broad scale clearing' that took place less than a decade ago. So, there is sufficient evidence to suggest we have taken serious action.

As we both know, when a native Forrest is cleared, regrowth will occur. however, this regrowth, if not maintained, is usually in the form of 'wattle' which is 'useless' and, unless maintained eventually renders the land unusable or even worse, turns it into a haven for Ferrel animals.

There needs to be some serious research into bamboo. Bamboo grows very quickly and exurb's CO2 at six times the rate of trees.

It also has outstanding building qualities.

Of cause, the biggest problem we face is the cost of doing anything.

What really thrills me the most is the fact that I cannot see any difference between the NSW ALP and the federal Government. That is exciting because we might see them go the same way?

Banjo,

As a result of the burning of fuels and wastes and the razing of forests, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is steadily increasing. This gas creates a "greenhouse effect" on the planet, for it allows solar rays to reach the earth's surface but prevents heat from radiating back into space. The consequence will be a global warming, which will eventually cause the melting of the polar ice caps, a rise in sea levels, and changes in weather patterns.

This warming effect is already under way, and average global temperature is expected to rise by 3 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit by 2030.
This seems like a small change, but minor fluctuations in global temperature can have drastic consequences.

The warmer climate expected in the next century will bring about changes in the global circulation patterns that drive the weather; more powerful storms and more numerous hurricanes; a three-foot rise in sea levels; flooding of river delta cities such as Cairo ; inundation of low-lying areas like the Netherlands; seepage of salt water into many fresh-water sources; and aridity in previously fertile areas. By the end of the 21st century, global temperature may have increased by as much as 9 degrees, raising sea levels by ten to twelve feet, turning tropical areas into deserts, and creating a climate far warmer than anything humanity has ever experienced.

Most of the climatic, agricultural, and ecological patterns we are familiar with today would be completely disrupted, and there is no knowing what the ultimate consequence would be for life on the planet and for human society.

As I stated in my previous post part of the problem is that this
and other atmospheric pollution is not an inevitable outcome of industrial technology: it derives also from political decisions to tolerate pollution rather than bear the costs - probably including slower economic growth - of limiting it.

Control of pollution anywhere is as we know - politically difficult as the economic interests behind "smokestack" industries are powerful political lobbies that are reluctant to commit the necessary resources to the task.

Dear Hasbeen and others,

You don't have to accept Professor Garnaut's assessment, there are numerous other sources available and these have prompted 36 other nations to act on climate change.

We in Australia have always had the reputation for the attitude, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." That has simply been an excuse for inaction. And it has taken us many decades to catch up with world progress. In this case however, we can no longer wait - and risk doing so at our own peril as the lack of preparation for major floods has proven. We're fortunate that with our current
Government an attempt is being made to safeguard the nation and the planet for future developments in climatic conditions.

Just as for bush-fires if the undergrowth isn't cleared, the owners of properties are not prepared, major loss and death results as recently experienced in Victoria.

Do nothing is not an option.