Garnaut wrong, say scientists

Adam Morton SMH

AUSTRALIA’S most respected climate scientists have condemned the advice of greenhouse adviser Ross Garnaut and urged the Federal Government to take a more aggressive position at global climate change negotiations. Three authors with the UN’s climate change panel say Professor Garnaut made a mistake by advising the Government to accept a deal that would all but guarantee environmental and social disaster. Speaking separately, Bill Hare, David Karoly and Amanda Lynch – all authors with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – criticised Professor Garnaut’s recommendations, describing them as inconsistent, disappointing and wrong. All believe Australia, as the developed country expected to be worst hit by climate change, should be aiming for a cut in emissions of 25 per cent to 40 per cent by 2020. Professor Garnaut last week recommended the Government set a target of cutting emissions by 10 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 as part of a modest but achievable global deal. He said Australia should make a proportionate commitment within a global framework based on per capita pollution levels. He believed Australia should be willing to commit to a more ambitious global deal, under which Australia would make a 25 per cent cut, but said it could not be achieved in the short term. Read more here