Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has retreated to his comments from earlier in the week, claiming Australia's net emissions make up only 1.4% of global emissions, and Australia should not be obliged to make any "massive cuts" to emissions.
Campbell said yesterday Australia remained on target to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets of 108% of 1990 emissions by 2012 under the UN's Kyoto Protocol, despite Australia's refusal to commit to lower emissions.
Alternatively, some ministers have taken the view that the Stronger Evidence but New Challenges: Climate Change Science 2001-2005 report – which synthesises scientific research on potential climate change impacts since 2001 – represents further evidence that Australia should adopt a nuclear energy policy, as a responsible means of reducing emissions from electrical power generation.
The report states the risks of reaching the high end of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third Assessment Report (2001) projections – temperature rises of up to 5.8C could be reached by the end of this century.
The report incorporates the scientific evidence collected since 2001, noting changes in extreme climate events, predicting that while the frequency of hurricane and cyclone events may not increase, individual events are likely to become more severe.
Factions within the Howard Government that support nuclear energy as a means of reducing Australian greenhouse gas emissions have been headed off at the pass by the Australia Institute's Dr Clive Hamilton, who said that if Australia is to have a true debate on nuclear energy, proposed sites need to be named.
Hamilton said that nuclear power stations had specific geographical requirements, needing large amounts of water available for cooling, proximity to the power grid and suitable access to transport.
Hamilton suggested a number of coastal sites, including Westernport Bay in Victoria and Port Stephens in New South Wales, saying a national nuclear debate could not take place in the abstract.
The Mayor of Port Stephens, Craig Baumann, has rejected the idea of a nuclear power facility sited near the community, telling the ABC that while he agreed with Hamilton's comments on siting requirements, Port Stephens was not the most suitable candidate.
"I'd suggest that they move the ships out of Garden Island and stick it right in the middle of Sydney," Baumann suggested.
