An argument that we have to make radical choices in the face of climate change

At the LEAN seminar with Peter Garrett and Anthony Albanese this week there was some discussion about radical choices we needed to look at in the face of climate change. A good example of this argument is presented by Ted Trainer of the Uni of NSW on his web site.

The full paper provides a good summary of his argument that pushing the uptake of renewables and pursuing modest behaviour change (solar hot water heaters, recycling etc.) won't be enough to save us from environmental catastrophe.

For a more detailed analysis on the limited value of renewables see: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/06b-Limits-Long.html#What_about_renewable_energy_sources

Ted's in the 'Clive Hamilton school of economic thinking': pursuing unmitigated economic growth is unsustainable, which makes him politically unpopular. But his research is rigorous and his analysis is compelling. The "weaknesses" in his arguments are perhaps that the likely impacts are long-term, and therefore easily ignored by politicians, policymakers and pundits.