Climate Change - Let's Have A Proper Debate

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – March 25, 2011: There is no doubting that climate change is on the political agenda for the foreseeable future and it deserves to be whether you are a "believer" or "sceptic".

It would seem that the vast majority of people believe that the climate is changing and the debate that is raging is more about the extent to which mankind is the cause of the change. Clearly, the "believers" believe that mankind's actions are a significant contributing factor and the "sceptics" do not.

Possibly, it matters little that there is this divide between the "believers" and the "sceptics", and what is more important is that we all agree on the need to take appropriate and sensible steps to reduce our environmental footprint which will benefit the globe anyway, whether you are a "believer" or "sceptic".

If we approach climate change from this prospective, the focus shifts from an argument between the "believers" and the "sceptics" about who or what is causing climate change to action to reduce our environmental footprint.

The remedial action to reduce our environmental footprint has not been debated in as dispassionate and non-political manner as it should, because of the polarisation created by the labels "believers" and "sceptics".

Which then brings me to the proposed carbon tax, which is not being debated in as constructive manner as it should. While VACC remains unconvinced about a carbon tax, assuming such a tax may be an answer, VACC believes two important questions remain unanswered at this stage of the debate:

Will polluting businesses really have sufficient incentive to change their behaviour if they can pass on the cost of any carbon tax? Competition in the market place will not necessarily take care of this because we have seen too many past examples of market competition failure.

How will small businesses, a great many of whom are price takers, be protected from, at one end, increased costs passed onto them by the polluters and, at the other end, consumers tightening their belts because of increased cost of living, for which they will not be fully compensated, despite what we are being promised in this regard at the moment?

As we strive to reduce our environmental footprint, which will also address climate change, whether it be through a carbon tax or other measures, why can't we, as a society, debate the issues within a rational, dispassionate, non-political and bipartisan framework, rather than confusing the hell out of most of us by continuing to focus on (as the politicians are doing in spades) the nonsense surrounding "believers" and "sceptics".