Pachi cloud
I don’t often agree with Rajendra Pachauri, but in this case I’m prepared to make a limited exception:
SPECIFIC natural disasters such as Cyclone Yasi and the Brisbane floods could not be directly linked to man-made climate change, the world’s leading climate change authority said yesterday.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change chairman Rajendra Pachauri said the general observation that climate change was bringing about an increase in extreme weather events was valid [what increase? – Ed] but scientists needed to provide much finer detail.
“Frankly, it is difficult to take a season or two and come up with any conclusions on those on a scientific basis,” Dr Pachauri said.
“What we can say very clearly is the aggregate impact of climate change on all these events, which are taking place at much higher frequency and intensity all over the world. [Really? – Ed]
“On that there is very little doubt; the scientific evidence is very, very strong. But what happens in Queensland or what happens in Russia or for that matter the floods in the Mississippi River right now, whether there is a link between those and climate change is very difficult to establish. So I don’t think anyone can make a categorical statement on that.”
Dr Pachauri’s comments contradict assertions by Greens leader Bob Brown in the wake of the floods that the coal industry was to blame because the sector’s contribution to global warming was responsible for the extreme weather conditions. (source)
But on the other hand, the Greens might end up as our saviours. They may vote against the carbon tax because it isn’t tough enough. Gillard, on the other hand, wants to make sure the carbon tax has as little impact as possible in order for it to sneak through, unnoticed.
A CARBON price of $40 a tonne is needed to force a switch from coal to new, gas-fired electricity generation and reduce Australia’s emissions, the federal government has been advised as it prepares for a meeting to run all weekend with the independents and Greens to begin crunching a final climate deal.
The carbon price has been widely expected to start at between $20 and $30 a tonne, but confidential research by Deloittes for the Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, says that with east coast gas prices rising, black coal will remain the cheapest way to generate power unless the price on emissions rises relatively quickly to $40 a tonne. (source)
There’s no way you can sneak $40 a tonne past the electorate, Julia. Doesn’t get any easier, does it?
Australian Climate Madness 
Seems to me like he’s trying to reach out to moderates in the climate community after so much shoddy alarmist crap found its way into the 2007 IPCC report. He must be scared to be making statements like this.
A carbon dioxide tax of $40 a tonne would be political suicide for any party, apart from the Greens, who are punching a bit higher than their actual weight.
Then again, considering the hugh public opposition to the carbon dioxide tax, any amount is political suicide.
If only a few Labor backbenchers would come out and say so before it’s all too late!
Any reference in this piece to “Climate Change” is always taken to mean “man made” Climate Change by brethren and sisters of the church.
So no real win for sceptics…
Just a negotiating position. Milne has stated several times they’ll agree to anything in order to get the legislation on the books. They want to get legislation in at a low price so year 1 price rises aren’t much, but then put the sting in the tail with massive price increases going forwards.
This must be the last time anyone with ‘green’ in their party name is allowed to go anywhere near legislation.
Oh yes- how could I have forgotten what a reasonable man that Pachauri is- now that he has established his credentials I can hardly doubt the reasonableness of the next IPCC report can I?