Don’t blow it APEC, habitable planets are hard to find

As APEC meets, the good ship


Recent science suggests that the danger level for atmospheric carbon concentrations, to keep warming below 2oC, is 450 parts per million carbon dioxide equivalent, possibly lower. Current atmospheric carbon concentrations are 430ppm CO2e, increasing at 3ppm per annum and accelerating fast, both here and overseas. In theory that leaves 7 years before we reach the danger point of 450ppm. In reality, given accelerating emissions and the non-linear climatic response which is occurring, we probably have no more than 4-5 years to turn down emissions growth. As there is considerable lag before any reduction in emissions takes effect, substantive action is required now, not in 2011 as the government proposes; by then we may already be in the danger zone.

The Prime Minister rightly emphasises that any realistic climate change solution must involve the developing world, but there is no vision or initiative to make this happen. The bankruptcy of current policy is evident in the pre-conference sparring between Foreign Minister Downer and his Malaysian counterpart.

Crikey