Unjoining CO2, climate and ecocide

Conclusion

The solution to the problem, as exemplified by Manne and much of the blinkered leftwing press, is ill-informed and impractical. Manne advocates a sort of "communism in theory"where there is no need for mines and humans live in harmony with the Earth. His solution is motivated by the IPCC-led perception that climate change is a global predominantly man-made problem. Like many commentators, he has conflated the destructive behaviours of humans on the environment, with man-made climate change and CO2. Climate has always changed and for many reasons. Importantly to this date, there are no compelling observations (as opposed to theory or alarming models) presented in the IPCC reports to make one conclude that climate change has accelerated because of man or more particularly because of CO2.

The demonisation of CO2 leads to lost opportunity to reduce the many negative human impacts on the environment, and to some global economically- and environmentally-damaging pursuits. These pursuits have aided and abetted substitution of natural gas for coal and loss of manufacturing in Europe and Australia. Of course there will be people, who directly benefit from these pursuits, notably some financiers, lawyers, rent-seekers; they will always protest but their protests should be subject to critical evaluation.

For the people such as Manne who genuinely hold that the current trajectory of atmospheric CO2 is the most dangerous threat facing our planet, Earth, I encourage them to critically and carefully re-examine this belief.

Regards the Monthly, what can one say? To say that it does not brook criticism of its selected contributors would be kind. It claims to provide "enlightening commentary and vigorous, at times controversial, debate on the issues that affect the nation".The reality is that it preaches debate of ideas, but practices propaganda. Its idealistic and often young readers should be informed of this.