Why are greenhouse gasses such an important issue in Australia?

[stevenehrbar]

No, really.  Granting that anthropogenic global warming is a very important, serious problem . . . why is reducing Australia's emissions a major issue in Australian politics?  Australia emitted 1.28% of the world's carbon dioxide in 2007.  Estimates I see are Australian methane and other emissions are equivalent to about half the warming effect of their CO₂, so making the impact-maximizing assumption there are no other greenhouse gasses than carbon dioxide emitted by anyone else anywhere, Australia is responsible for about 2% of global greenhouse emissions, which share is declining as the developing world industrializes.

If Australia's emissions magically went to zero, it would have no discernible impact whatsoever on global warming.  The science says there is nothing Australia can do about global warming on its own that will have any effect.  So why is Australia even considering expensive, unilateral cuts in emissions that won't do anything to actually prevent global warming?

Comments

[dmmaus.livejournal.com]

Because someone has to do it. Your question is akin to asking "Why bother to vote, when my vote is only a fraction of a millionth of all the votes?"

[stevenehrbar.livejournal.com]

Voting, including going to the poll and getting back home takes me, on average, fifteen minutes a year, or 0.004% of my not-asleep time. There is no way that any meaningful carbon reductions will cost only 0.004% of Australia's relevant resources to implement.

Second, my voting doesn't result in people rewarding non-voters. Greenhouse control in Australia, however, will encourage businesses to operate in other, non-controlled countries in proportion to how expensive it is to comply with the controls.

Finally, when I vote, I have reason to believe that other people will vote the same way I do; our collective impact can actually produce results, and whether or not I vote can potentially change the outcome. I don't see any particular reason to believe Australian action will be coordinated with or inspire greenhouse reductions in other countries. Americans largely ignore Australia, and I don't see any particular reason why unilateral Australian action will produce any results in the other major emitters (China, Russia, and India) who together emit over 50% of all CO₂ in a year.

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[opportinaama.livejournal.com]

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