‘Hot death’ warning on climate

The world would be condemned to a “hot death” if it did not pursue so-called clean coal technologies and attempts to tackle global warming should not come at the expense of economic growth, according to federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell of Australia.

He also said there was no real upside into pumping more money into old technologies such as wind turbines.

Australian Conservation Foundation executive director Don Henry said Senator Campbell’s claims that Kyoto was irrelevant and ineffective was “wildly inaccurate”.

“The world’s first strong agreement to tackle climate change is alive and kicking but the Australian Government’s lack of action to cut spiralling domestic greenhouse pollution and (its) international spoiling role is damaging our reputation and future,” he said.

The Age