On the one hand he states publicly that the world should strive to reach agreements on reducing carbon emissions at Copenhagen and the importance of this.
Then in a quieter conversation with the Danish PM (maybe off the record, but recorded?) he says he is "pessimistic about the world reaching agreement on reducing carbon emissions at Copenhagen" and that "our negotiators are hampered".
Our negotiators are hampered - by the Rudd Government's policy settings for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - which thankfully has not yet been passed by the Senate, and hopefully won't be.
The CPRS sets an upper cap on Australia's negotiating range of 25% reductions by 2050, and has a measly and demonstrably inadequate 5% committed (minimum) target. Which is equivalent to no emission reductions.
So here are some tips for you Kevin:
- Set the negotiating range as 25% to 100% by 2050
- Set real targets for annual tangible emission reductions - which means no increases every henceforth, and no offsets
- Display leadership on this issue - not pessimism
- Focus on the thousands of green jobs associated clean energy research, development, manufacturing, installation and exports.
- Announce a twenty year transition off fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas
- Stop listening to entrenched industry interests that are polluting your government's policies and response to climate change - and start listening to the people.
