Garnaut says we have high per capita emissions simply because we burn so much coal for electricity.

550ppm Garnaut target

Garnaut says we should cut our emissions to 10% of our year 2000 levels, and achieve that by 2020. That's part of a global target to limit atmospheric gas concentrations to 550 ppm. That means a 25% cut in our emissions which would slice 1.6% of our economy by 2020.

That means no Barrier Reef. 450 ppm would be in Australia's interest as it would lead to far less damage to the environment. China would have to agree to binding emissions targets from 2012 but there's no chance of China agreeing to this.

emissions and recession

The largest recent (only) reduction in greenhouse emissions was when the Soviet Union collapsed So to save the planet do we need a recession? Or even, gasp, a depression? And then how do we come out of it?

Does a reduction in greenhouse gases really mean a reduction in our standard of (material) living?

primates under threat

Nearly half of all primate species are under threat & more than 70% of species in Asia. In Vietnam and Cambodia the figure is 90%. "What is happening in Asia is terrifying. To have a group of animals under such a high level of threat is, quite frankly, unlike anything we have recorded among any other group of species to date." Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy chief IUCN's species program.

BUT 125,000 western lowland gorillas have been counted in the vast forest and swamps of the northern Congo Republic. 

Green Emirates

Emirates strikes a blow for reducing greenhouse emissions by offering in-flight showers to first class passengers on the double-decker A380 superjumbo. The planes will have to carry 25% more water but the showers are strictly limited to five minutes. 

China's carbon emissions

According to Professor Garnaut, if current rates of growth continue, China's carbon emissions will triple by 2030 (22 years time when I'm 75) and they will then make up 37% of global emissions — three times those of the US.

Mountain Gorillas

There are a mere 780 mountain gorillas in the world.