Clearly, to get a job at the SMH, you need to tick the box on the application form that says “I am an AGW alarmist”:

The cartoon should be the complete reverse, of course: Rudd diverting all his energy to fighting the pointless battle of “tackling climate change” whilst the global economy waits to snap its jaws.

See the original here.

Because the models have taken no account of the global economic crisis, says the Opposition spokesman Andrew Robb, who believes the Government won’t be able to bring in an ETS in 2010:

“It’s dead in the water – the modelling – before we’re even seen it.

“They’re fumbling, they’re not certain and all of this willl make people very concerned about major plans to tackle climate change at a time when there’s this enormous pressure on jobs and business and economic activity.”

More of the same, please, Andrew.

Read it here.

Ziggy Switkowski says Australia will need to spend the equivalent of Kevin Rudd’s $10bn rescue package every year to “tackle climate change”.

“In terms of the financial consequences of climate change policies, they are a bit like the $10 billion a year program proposed this year every year from now until the end of the century, big call.”

You bet. And he is quite right when he says:

“The US is unconvinced about the science of climate change, and China has been, quite understandably, focused on economic growth and the welfare of its people.”

Read it here.

No external influence from teachers or environmental groups of course. Pupils at 20 separate schools spontaneously decide to take part in identical protests for action to “tackle climate change”.

THOUSANDS of students from 20 schools sent a strong and innovative message about climate change yesterday.
…
“The younger generation wants us to do something.’’ Bendigo Sustainability Group’s Andrea Scott said the signs were a way to enable young people to feel like they can make a difference.

“Our community may be surprised to know the level of concern our youth feel towards climate change,’’ Ms Scott said. It was left up to each school what message they wanted to create.

But it turns out it was anything but spontaneous, with a ragbag collection of sponsors keen to push their own agendas including Mount Alexander Sustainability Groups and Hepburn Renewable Energy Association, both local environmental action groups, and teachers were clearly only too happy to help out.

This kind of indoctrination is simply unacceptable. If my children had been dragged into a political protest by their schools wishing to promote an environmental agenda, I would be hopping mad. I wonder how many parents were consulted (or even informed).

Read it here.

I thought I’d heard it all… not even close. According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, climate change can cause more crime. The report (a bargain at $5.00 for a hard copy):

examines the implications of climate change for Australia’s police forces and officers.
…
The report has a number of recommendations including the creation of an information hub and the development of risk assessments of the locations that will be most affected by climate change as part of a multi-agency strategic approach to climate change adaptation.

The kinds of crime they foresee include:

• water theft: individuals stealing water, use of fraudulent water trucks, siphoning from river systems
• violent protests aimed at the government over perceived inadequate policy responses
• natural disasters providing an opportunity for looting
• more “climate refugees” seeking entry to Australia

Read it here.

The Climate Institute has conducted a poll which shows that support for the Government’s management of climate change has slumped from 43% when Kevin Rudd ratified Kyoto, to 28% two weeks ago. The Coalition rose from 9% to 14%, but the overwhelming majority (58%) couldn’t distinguish between the parties on climate change.

There are probably a number of reasons for this. Firstly, both Labor and the Coalition have virtually carbon copy policies on climate, the only difference being a one or two year delay, proposed by the Coalition, prior to the introduction of an ETS. Secondly, the public are probably becoming far less interested in climate matters given the current financial crisis (which has continued to worsen in the two weeks since the poll was conducted).

However, the Climate Institute manages to put the opposite spin on the results, claiming that the Government aren’t doing enough:

“The slump in the Government’s credentials may be driven by a belief that big polluters are not being made to do their ‘fair share’ on climate change and there’s community impatience to see strong government action following the ratification of Kyoto,” Climate Institute CEO John Connor said.
…
“The message for our political leaders is clear – back strong internationally and scientifically credible Australian carbon pollution reduction targets, of at least 25 per cent reduction from 1990 levels, and accelerate the growth of clean energy and energy efficiency.”

That’s the great thing about polls – you can spin them to say exactly what you want. Unfortunately, on clicking the link to the “Polling Fact Sheet” which may reveal the wording of the questions asked, the site responds: Not Found.

Read it here.

Here is the low-down on the bleating letter by 40 scientists to the Government to “press on with tackling climate change” (previously commented on here and here) as reported in Australian Science Alert:

New studies reported by leading climate scientists indicate the Greenland and west Antarctica ice caps would, if atmospheric CO2-equivalent concentrations reached 450 ppm, very likely melt rapidly, raising sea-level on the scale of metres per century.

I guess by “leading climate scientists” he means his mates at the IPCC. He then goes on to quote from a letter by arch-alarmist James Hansen to Kevin Rudd:

Global climate is near critical tipping points that could lead to loss of all summer sea ice in the Arctic with detrimental effects on wildlife, initiation of ice sheet disintegration in West Antarctica and Greenland with progressive, unstoppable global sea level rise, shifting of climatic zones with extermination of many animal and plant species, reduction of freshwater supplies for hundreds of millions of people, and a more intense hydrologic cycle with stronger droughts and forest fires, but also heavier rains and floods, and stronger storms driven by latent heat, including tropical storms, tornados and thunderstorms.

Wow, sounds like something out of the Old Testament – and only marginally less credible as well. The only thing he doesn’t mention is plagues of locusts. He finishes with the “End of the World” conclusion:

We must face the challenge and seize the opportunities in dealing with climate change. We face a choice between climatic disasters and directing resources to stabilise the Earth’s climate for future generations. We need to invest in low-carbon technology and we need to do it now.

Read it here (if you must).

More news on this. Don’t know why, but the movie world seems to generate more than its fair share of people who feel themselves qualified to comment on environmental matters, so it comes as little surprise that Sydney’s own Cate Blanchett has agreed to open this CFGF (I’m getting a little tired of typing “carbon-fuelled gab-fest” every other post):

Metropolis Association president Jean-Paul Huchon said the global financial meltdown would dominate talks.

“The message is don’t stop thinking about climate change, don’t stop thinking about sustainable development, but give the cities the means and the money to fund their… investments,” Mr Huchon said.

Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away…

Read it here.

We would expect nothing less, of course, but he’s really on top form with a string of alarmist comments with no basis in fact which he will inflict on the poor, unsuspecting people of Lismore on 1 November:

Our climate is changing faster than most scientists had predicted and greenhouse emissions are increasing faster than the International Panel on Climate Change’s worst scenarios.
…
If the globe warms more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, the impacts will be too severe and the risks of runaway climate change too great.
…
We only have a few years to turn around global emissions or 2°C warming will be locked in.

The more evidence that comes to light that “global warming” (which stopped in 2001) has nothing to do with CO2 emissions, the more desperate the alarmists get.

Read it here.

See what I mean (see last post)? In Sydney this time – the World Congress of Metropolis (reported here), at which delegates from 100 global cities will enjoy free hospitality at their respective taxpayers’ expense for doing very little for three days. Given the carbon footprint will be about the size of Botany Bay, let’s hope they’re not discussing climate change, because that would be rank hypocrisy… oops, they are:

It will address issues facing cities around the world including climate change, financing public infrastructure, urban renewal, and social sustainability.

In fact, none other than Dr Rajendra Pachauri himself, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, will be here – I sure hope he’s paid for his carbon offsets. What do you think?

Read it here.