Garnaut Climate Change Review
From Envirowiki
The Garnaut Climate Change Review is a review commissioned by the Rudd Government to look into action on climate change. The report is named after it's convenor, Ross Garnaut, an australian economist, and is due to be finished in June 2008.
Contents |
[edit] 1 Releases
[edit] 1.1 Intermediate release
An intermediate review was released in mid February, 2008, and the the suprise and joy of many in the environment movement, Garnaut's figures read just as the science recommended (ie. 90% cuts by 2050). This was problematic for the Rudd government, who had committed to 60% cuts by 2050. When questioned in parliament by the Greens, the Government's Minister for Climate Change, Penny Wong showed that the government's figure is not based on science[1].
[edit] 2 Final release
The final release of the garnaut report came out in October 2008[2].
[edit] 3 Recommendations
The reviews recommendations are stronger than the government's existing targets of 60% by 2050. Garnaut calls for to cut emissions by at least 80% by 2050/10% by 2020 for 550ppm, and 90% by 2050/25%by 2020 for 450ppm.
[edit] 3.1 Carbon peak
Page 42 includes a graph that seems to imply that carbon will peak around 2030-40, much too late to avoid a safe climate target. The report discusses carbon peaking profiles (p.47), but uses the concept to discuss the potential for overshooting targets.
The review has two main scenarios, one for 450ppm, one for 500ppm. It says that 550ppm stabilisation would require a carbon peak by 2021 at a level only 5 per cent above 2012 levels. The 450ppm stabilisation would peak before that, with 2020 emission levels 3 per cent below 2012 levels.
[edit] 4 Reactions
The government's response to the review is it's "Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme", which is basically an Emissions trading scheme.
[edit] 5 Conflict of interest
In the Executive Summary of the Garnaut interim review, Garnaut argues for Australia developing regional agreements with developing nations "including with Papua New Guinea" (no other countries mentioned). An article by Jacob Saulwick in the Sydney Morning Herald pointed out that, in a conflict of interest, this would directly benefit Garnaut, who is the CEO of Lihir Gold Mining. Lihir Gold mine in Papua New Guinea is run almost entirely on a volcanic geo-thermal electricity plant, and the company is spending $160 million in anticipation of benefits from a carbon trading scheme[3]
[edit] 6 References
- ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/22/2170027.htm?section=justin
- ↑ Garnaut, Ross (2008-10). "Garnaut Climate Change Review"., Department of Climate Change. Retrieved on 2008-10-18.
- ↑ Recommendation would benefit author, Jacob Saulwick, February 22, 2008, Sydney Morning Herald
