Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Australia’s oversized footprint

By Andrew Bartlett - posted Friday, 22 June 2007


Australia is also in the unenviable position of being geographically isolated both internationally and domestically. As a result, we rely heavily on high carbon emitting air transport for travel both intra and interstate as well as internationally.

The Australia Institute published a study earlier this year (see On Line Opinion article)predicting that the aviation industry could account for more than half of all carbon emissions by 2050 and advocating a reduction target of 60 per cent. This study also called for the introduction of a $30 greenhouse levy on ticket prices for domestic to discourage consumers from flying unnecessarily. Virgin Blue has introduced a voluntary carbon offset payment on their domestic flights: a tiny start but unlikely to have much impact on its own.

Our relative isolation will bite us as the cost of travel and exporting goods by air becomes more expensive. We already suffer higher air travel costs in comparison to other nations and we risk having them inflate much higher than more densely populated regions near each other.

Advertisement

It is not just our heavy reliance on fossil-fuel that is a problem, but also our heavy reliance on livestock both domestically and for export. The impact of livestock in terms of carbon dioxide and methane is something that has received little attention to date but it impacts more on greenhouse gas emissions than travel.

In 2003 the then Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting indicated that dairy livestock contributed about 30 per cent of all agricultural emissions and all agricultural emissions contributed approximately 18 per cent of Australia’s total carbon emissions. In 2005 the total figure was 16 per cent.

Behavioural changes such as making alterations to farming practices, or preferably by a change in human behaviour that resulted in less reliance on livestock would effectively reduce greenhouse emissions. Small changes already made have had an impact but overall there is still more to be done, starting with giving greater recognition of the fact that we need to act in this area.

Australia’s intransigence and calculated delays over the last decade has had two negative effects. It has discouraged other nations, especially less wealthy nations in our Asia-Pacific region, from bothering to engage with the issue and generally helped to scuttle efforts to get global co-operation. It also means that Australia is much further behind with the economic opportunities that will occur as economies and demands change in a highly greenhouse conscious world.

Australia’s excessively high per capita greenhouse gas emission rates must end as soon as possible. We may be a small nation but this does not mean that we have to be ineffective.

Our inaction and lack of leadership continues to harm the global ecosystem, global co-operation and action. We must not continue to use other nation’s lack of action or vastly different circumstances as an excuse not to change our behaviour. By introducing emissions targets along with developing and implementing strategies and technologies to achieve them, we can show leadership in our region. It makes economic and environmental sense.

Advertisement

There is no single strategy that will address all the challenges of climate change, but to have no strategy, is a betrayal of our children and future generations - it is their future we are trashing through our inability or unwillingness to act now.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

36 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Andrew Bartlett has been active in politics for over 20 years, including as a Queensland Senator from 1997-2008. He graduated from University of Queensland with a degree in social work and has been involved in a wide range of community organisations and issues, including human rights, housing, immigration, Indigneous affairs, environment, animal rights and multiculturalism. He is a member of National Forum. He blogs at Bartlett's Blog.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Andrew Bartlett

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Andrew Bartlett
Article Tools
Comment 36 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy