Too little, too late – the politics of climate change by Colin Challen MP
A report from Australia was in the news yesterday – this is Prof. Ross Garnaut’s climate change report asked for by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who famously won what was possibly the world’s first ‘climate change’ election last year. The report concludes that the situation is worse than we feared, which comes as no surprise, since all the trends are heading in that direction. But some people still cling on to the belief that climate change is all a hoax (they’ve obviously moved on from the moon landings) and insist that any apparent counter evidence proves that the whole climate change hypothesis is wrong. One such ‘fact’ is that the arctic ice cap is actually growing in size despite the satellite measurements demonstrating the opposite. Some people just can’t get their heads around seasonal changes. In winter the ice cap always grows. But overall, it is diminishing in its maximum extent, although there can always be periods when this doesn’t happen. If climate change reduces the North Atlantic current, which brings warm water up from equatorial oceans, then we will face some very much colder weather in the north – but it will only be temporary in the face of the overall global warming trend. No doubt sceptics will leap on this possibility, if it happens, as further proof that all is well. They will have ready listeners amongst the public, who won’t want to pay extra to avoid something they don’t think is happening. For politicians, it will be harder still to sell such policies . . .
January 19th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I can’t wait to read Colin’s much awaited new book.
Not only does he know the topic inside out, but as a serving MP he can provide a unique insight into the art of the possible.
If only he were Environment Minister . . .