Home Eco News Eco News / Issue 69 December 2009 - January 2010 Australia risks economic ruin if climate change debate is not driven by science
Australia risks economic ruin if climate change debate is not driven by science

Prof_Ian_PilmerEssington Lewis Memorial Lecture

The Australian economy risked total collapse unless the country's chief decision-makers embraced basic science as part of the climate change debate, one of the world's most controversial global warming sceptics warned.

Delivering the 35th annual Essington Lewis Memorial Lecture - one of the most prestigious lectures on the South Australian resources industry calendar - in Adelaide today, Professor Ian Plimer feared the country would become an economic backwater if scientific due diligence was not part of making vital policy decisions on climate change.

"My greatest fear is this country's lights will go out and the rest of the world will think no-one is home - and they will be right," Professor Plimer warned.

"Australia will go broke and will become the laughing stock of the world if our political leaders keep making decisions on climate change based on ideology rather than on science," he said.

"This country is heading down a very dangerous path of self-destruction if these people continue on their current path of ignorance, and ignore scientific due diligence when making such important decisions about the future of this country.

"Australia faces the very real risk of losing everything our forefathers busted their guts for over the past 200 years, if something is not done to address the current imbalance in the climate change argument.

"People have accused me of over-reacting and over-exaggerating my views on the topic, but they are playing the man and not the ball.

"I have not heard one of them base their opinion on science or intellect - and that is what needs to be debated.

"Our past is the key to the present, and science does not operate by consensus, bullying, authority, government decree, fads or fashion, personal beliefs and/or vested interests."

Professor of Mining Geology at the University of Adelaide, Professor Plimer is the author of Heaven + Earth - Global Warming: The Missing Science, arguably the most controversial book published in Australia, possibly the world, on climate change.

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-1 #1 2009-12-09 23:09
Pro Plimer says "People have accused me of over-reacting and over-exaggerating my views on the topic, but ... I have not heard one of them base their opinion on science or intellect" This is not true. I know he has heard Professor Kurt Lambeck, president of the Australian Academy of Science's critisism at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2009/2589206.htm because he responded to it at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2009/2716078.htm
 
 
-1 #2 2009-12-09 23:22
The headline is good, but the undertone of the rest of the story leaves me curious that this story is featured on this website.

There have been many rebuttles of Ian Plimer's points of view based on science and intellect. Here's a start:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/jul/09/george-monbiot-ian-plimer

Probably good that you have included 'The views expressed in the article and comments made by user do not necessarily reflect that of the Eco Voice team.'
 
 
+1 #3 2009-12-10 04:05
Proffessor Plimer is a great man and a patriotic Australian -

In the last 12 months we have;
The Worlds Worst and Most Urgent Financial Crisis
The Worlds Worst and Most Urgent Health (Flu) Crisis
The Worlds Worst and Most Urgent Environmental Crisis

To fix these problems we supposedly can only be saved by the unelected bodies of the WTO WHO and the IMF all in the name of global governace..Problem-Reaction-Solution

This is the bigger picture.

We all want a cleaner Environment just not governed by UNELECTED transnational bodies.
 
 
+2 #4 2009-12-12 22:45
I for one want a cleaner and healthier enviroment, If we have to be taxed further to ensure a sustainable enviroment I could accept that, but what I would require is that the Government on our behalf spend the money wisely for the benifit of all, not for political purposes that will send us all broke with no benifits. Remember it is the wealthy economy that can afford to assist the poor and improve the enviroment. Any poor economy does not spend any money on improving the enviroment. Therefore we must be mindful of ensureing the economy remains wealthy so that we can afford to look after the enviroment.
In regard to Global Warming GW/CO2 and Climate Change CCthese are two distinct models. CC is occuring and always had, there is nothing now validly presented that indicates that there is any variation from the trend that there always has been. There is nothing to say that a warmer climate will be detrimental.
 

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