ID :
197305
Tue, 07/26/2011 - 13:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/197305
The shortlink copeid
Visiting Czech snubs Aussie carbon policy
SYDNEY (AAP) - July 26 - Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott may finally have found an economist who agrees with him in the carbon price debate - the president of the Czech Republic.
President Vaclav Klaus, a former economist, described climate change as a "mass delusion" in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.
But Prime Minister Julia Gillard wheeled out an international leader of her own in former British prime minister Tony Blair, who said dealing with the threat of climate change was a test of true leadership.
Mr Blair said it was "intelligent" to move away from over-dependence on carbon.
"And the only way that you do that in the end is you put some price on carbon," he told a joint press conference in Melbourne.
"My experience of politics is that if you try to take difficult decisions you always end up causing yourself a certain amount of problems," he said.
"But that's what you're there for.
"The question is what's the right decision for the future."
Back in Canberra, in front of an audience that included fellow climate change sceptic Lord Christopher Monckton, Mr Klaus was championing opposition leader Tony Abbott's direct action policy.
"I would say that, in some respect, I would be in favour of direct action," he said.
"Direct action is visible, understandable and probably people can more easily discuss the cost benefits of such measures."
He warned that combating climate change would be expensive.
"The costs of fighting the climate will be much higher than the costs of potential global warming, if there will be any, in the foreseeable future," he said.
"If someone wants to reduce CO2 emissions he must either expect a revolution in economic efficiency, a revolution which undermines emission intensity," he said.
"Or start organising a worldwide economic decline. Nothing else is possible, either-or."
Mr Klaus accused extreme supporters of climate change action of being totalitarians.
"We have heard many times in the past, especially in the tragic moments of the 20th century, words like 'suspension of democratic processes' in the name of 'higher values, goals, ideas'," he said.
"I do not believe in the innocence of global warming alarmists.
"They do not care about the environment. They just misuse it in their crusade, which aims at limiting our freedom and prosperity.
"I don't want to make cheap comparisons of their ideology with communism, but I do see many similarities."
Ms Gillard declined an offer to have official talks with Mr Klaus during his speaking tour of Australia.
Perhaps she had seen the YouTube clip that went viral after Mr Klaus was caught on camera pocketing a jewel-encrusted pen during a press conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in April.
The Czech president is set to visit Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in a tour organised by the Institute of Public Affairs.
President Vaclav Klaus, a former economist, described climate change as a "mass delusion" in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.
But Prime Minister Julia Gillard wheeled out an international leader of her own in former British prime minister Tony Blair, who said dealing with the threat of climate change was a test of true leadership.
Mr Blair said it was "intelligent" to move away from over-dependence on carbon.
"And the only way that you do that in the end is you put some price on carbon," he told a joint press conference in Melbourne.
"My experience of politics is that if you try to take difficult decisions you always end up causing yourself a certain amount of problems," he said.
"But that's what you're there for.
"The question is what's the right decision for the future."
Back in Canberra, in front of an audience that included fellow climate change sceptic Lord Christopher Monckton, Mr Klaus was championing opposition leader Tony Abbott's direct action policy.
"I would say that, in some respect, I would be in favour of direct action," he said.
"Direct action is visible, understandable and probably people can more easily discuss the cost benefits of such measures."
He warned that combating climate change would be expensive.
"The costs of fighting the climate will be much higher than the costs of potential global warming, if there will be any, in the foreseeable future," he said.
"If someone wants to reduce CO2 emissions he must either expect a revolution in economic efficiency, a revolution which undermines emission intensity," he said.
"Or start organising a worldwide economic decline. Nothing else is possible, either-or."
Mr Klaus accused extreme supporters of climate change action of being totalitarians.
"We have heard many times in the past, especially in the tragic moments of the 20th century, words like 'suspension of democratic processes' in the name of 'higher values, goals, ideas'," he said.
"I do not believe in the innocence of global warming alarmists.
"They do not care about the environment. They just misuse it in their crusade, which aims at limiting our freedom and prosperity.
"I don't want to make cheap comparisons of their ideology with communism, but I do see many similarities."
Ms Gillard declined an offer to have official talks with Mr Klaus during his speaking tour of Australia.
Perhaps she had seen the YouTube clip that went viral after Mr Klaus was caught on camera pocketing a jewel-encrusted pen during a press conference with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in April.
The Czech president is set to visit Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in a tour organised by the Institute of Public Affairs.
