| Apr ’10 |
| 21 |
| 4:00 pm |
What is Happening:
Climate change, economic justice and the political process – why democracies struggle with the bleeding obvious
This talk will focus on the economic and political challenges associated with tackling climate change, with a particular emphasis on the differing notions of ‘equity’ that are used by different countries. Australia, for example, argues that because we are already a large emitter we should be given generous entitlements to continue to pollute. The Brazilians, on the other hand, argue that because we have already polluted so much our entitlement to pollute in the future should be even more tightly constrained.
The scientific consensus on the likely risks of rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions began to form in the late 1980s. Indeed, by the early 1990s there was widespread international political acceptance of the likely risks and the need to act. That said, despite being 20 years since the ‘Rio Earth Summit’ emissions continue to rise and domestic and international politics are mired in disputes over who should reduce emissions. An important dimension of this impasse is the desire of developing countries to see their own economies grow strongly. Ironically, while developing countries demand the right to continue to increase their emissions it is developing countries who are likely to face the biggest challenges from human-induced climate change.
Until we can agree on what is ‘fair’ it is unlikely that we will be able to agree on what is ‘sustainable’.
Dr Richard Denniss is Executive Director of The Australia Institute, a public policy think tank based in Canberra. An economist by training Richard’s research centres on the design of market regulation, particularly in the areas of the labour market and the environment.
Prior to his current position, Richard worked as Strategy Adviser to the leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Bob Brown, and was Chief of Staff to the then leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja. He is currently an adjunct professor at the Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University.
Where is it On?:
Molony Room, Building 3T, Fellows Lane Cottage, Australian National University, Canberra
RSVP?: No
Contact Details:
Ian Buckley on 6295 9543, Giles Pickford on 0411 186 199
http://www.anu.edu.au/emeritus/
