Pathetic

Rudd et al have gone from calling climate change the "great moral challenge of our generation" to saying that Australia wouldn't do very much unless developing nations came on board, to now saying that no matter what developing nations agree to, we're still not going to do very much:

It is expected the Government, in its white paper to be published next Monday, will aim to reduce greenhouse gases by 2020 by between 5 per cent and 15 per cent. The final figure will be set after an international meeting on climate change in Copenhagen late next year, when the intentions of the rest of the world will be better known ... A Chinese adviser in Poznan warned at the weekend that Australia would derail global climate talks if it stayed with a maximum target of 15 per cent for cutting greenhouse emissions.

It was nice that Rudd and Co ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but perhaps they should have read it first. Like this bit:

1. The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof. (my emphasis)

If you still think this government is in any sense green or concerned about climate change, consider this: they are way to the right of Arnold Schwarzenegger on this issue.

posted by Nicholas @ 3:55 PM