We just say we are committed

I think the latest news from the Australian Prime Ministers office is a classic political run around. Get the latest statement from Howard published in the Energy Supply Association of Australia magazine:

Firstly the “I support comment” from Howard:
Prime Minister John Howard has welcomed an announcement by the United States of a meeting of major economies in late September to progress an initiative by President George W. Bush to build a broader coalition for practical international climate change action.

Next the “Democratic run around”:
Prime Minister John Howard has made a decision to defer setting a long-term target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions until the full facts are known. “Otherwise one might come up with a lot of emotional and political responses that may or may not be the best, and I think in a democracy it’s important to see there is an informed debate in officialdom as well as in the public.”
Well that’s great given most informed people know how long the Howard government has also been dancing around the lack of commitment to Kyoto. He has had years to have “informed debate” but of course hasn’t.

Action is needed according to a final report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:
“A greater focus on adapting to climate change is required to reduce Australia’s vulnerability. Impact on major infrastructure is likely to increase in Australia. By 2030, design criteria for extreme events are very likely to be exceeded more frequently: risks include more blackouts, failure of floodplain protection and urban drainage-sewerage, increased storm and fire damage, and more heatwaves. In addition, water security problems are projected to intensify by 2030 in southern and eastern Australia as a result of reduced precipitation and increased evaporation.”

We need someone with the guts to take action, otherwise we have to live with a decision maker who only has his political interests at heart; not our longer term wellbeing.