Garnaut Draft report released
July 10, 2008
The Garnaut Climate Change Review Draft Report was released on 4 July 2008.
Commissioned by Australia's Federal, State and Territory Governments, the report examines the impacts and opportunities of climate change on the Australian economy. It argues that without strong and early action by Australia and all major economies we are likely to face severe and costly impacts on Australia's prosperity and enjoyment of life.
Some of the content and key points to highlight from the 538 page report include:
'Climate change is a diabolical policy problem. It is harder than any other issue of high importance that has come before our polity in living memory'
A clear call for brave leadership on climate change.
Context of climate change, summary of the science and projected impacts
Discussion on the difficulties of developing comprehensive climate policy
Context of Australia's role within the global setting
The importance of deepening international collaboration
The financial impacts of addressing climate change
The energy 'transformation' required
Agency and information barriers to change
The emissions trading scheme; the revenue generated from the scheme should be invested in the following areas: 50% to households, 30% for structural adjustments for trade exposed emission intensive (TEEII) businesses and 20% for research and development.
There has been widespread interest in the report, with substantial media coverage and booked-out attendance at public forums around Australia.
To download the Draft Report visit the Garnaut Review website: www.garnautreview.org.au
Public Forum in Melbourne
The Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action has put together a summary of the main issues raised at the public forum held on the 9th July at Melbourne Town Hall. The forum was attended by around 2000 people and included a 1/2 hour overview of the report provided by Professor Garnaut.
Key points included:
The transition to a low carbon economy requires innovation, skills, and capacity. Different countries need to invest in research and development based on their own special interests and national strengths.
Larger companies have already, for a number of years, been taking into account impending carbon pricing, and adjusting their businesses.
Australia has experienced a rise in living standards, creating an affluent country, partly as beneficiaries of the Asian economic boom - this boom has made climate change mitigation more urgent, with a short time frame for action; costs of mitigation in Australia can be seen as Australia reinvesting some of the profit from this boom (rather than simply cost imposition).
There are 4 different categories of climate change costs, and only 1 of these categories can be modelled (this category includes the standard set of economic measures such as GDP). Therefore it is important to not just focus on the numbers as these provide only one part of the total situation.
Garnaut's research updates modelling by IPCC: IPCC's expected atmospheric CO2e levels for 2050 will, according to Garnaut's research, in fact be reached by 2030 with 'business-as-usual' emissions.
"For those who say we mustn't be first, you've got your wish, because we are a long way from being first," Garnaut said. "The best we can hope for is that we are not a drag on the pack."
The Public Forum overview was followed by a 1 hour question session. Many of the questions were from community climate action groups' members. Questions covered a range of material including:
Why an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and not a carbon tax?
When will agriculture and forestry be brought into the ETS?
Why did the modelling not consider 350ppm and 400ppm?
Adaptation in the Pacific region
Regional coastal impacts of sea level rise
Renewable energy vs clean coal (several questions on this, including 'why waste money on clean coal when we need action now and we know renewables work')
The final report of the Garnaut Review is due by 30th September 2008.
After more information about emissions trading?
The Total Environment Centre, Greenpeace and Environment Victoria has launched a new website to answers your FAQs about an emissions trading scheme. Visit: www.lowcarbonfuture.org.au
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