Howard backed an ETS!

[Rorschach]

John Howard says climate change 'exaggerated'
* by: AAP
* From: News Limited Network
* November 06, 2013 8:27AM

FORMER PM John Howard thinks there'll never be a worldwide climate change agreement and admits he only backed emissions trading before the 2007 election because he faced a "perfect storm" on the issue.

Mr Howard delivered the Global Warming Policy Foundation's annual lecture in London on Tuesday night.

The foundation was established by former Thatcher minister Nigel Lawson, who is sceptical about the impact of rising temperatures.

"I've always been agnostic about it (climate change)," Mr Howard told reporters in London before his address.

"I don't completely dismiss the more dire warnings but I instinctively feel that some of the claims are exaggerated.

"I don't accept all of the alarmist conclusions."

Mr Howard said he'd grown up being told ulcers were caused by stress but it was later revealed a virus was to blame.

"You can never be absolutely certain that all the science is in."

Before the 2007 federal election then prime minister Howard pledged a re-elected conservative government would introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS).

But he now says that was because by late 2006 his government hit a "perfect storm" with ongoing drought, severe water restrictions, bushfires and the release of the Stern Review and Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth.

"To put it bluntly, 'doing something' about global warming gathered strong political momentum in Australia," Mr Howard said in his written lecture.

Regardless, Labor won the 2007 poll.

Mr Howard says that was partly because the party had even "more fashionable" views on climate change.

But six years on, Australia's second-longest serving prime minister insists the high tide of public support for "overzealous action" on global warming has passed.

"I am very sceptical about the possibility of a global agreement ever being reached when you look at what happened in Copenhagen," he said, adding there was no real prospect of a deal between the major emitters Europe, the US and north Asia.

Mr Howard believes anti-global warming policies should never stand in the way of economic growth in developing countries.

Most economists believe current Prime Minister Tony Abbott's direct action approach to curbing carbon emissions will be more expensive than an ETS.

But Mr Howard on Tuesday refused to be drawn on his protegee's policy.

"It's better for the government that's proposing the direct action plan to engage in the debate," he said.

The former Liberal leader was forced to defend his decision to read Lord Lawson's book An Appeal to Reason twice despite not having picked up any other book on global warming.

Asked if that was unbalanced, the ex-PM said he re-read the work as a courtesy after being invited by Lord Lawson to deliver the lecture.

Mr Howard said it was a "counterbalance" to advice previously received from government departments and stressed he'd read "numerous articles" on climate change.

The 74-year-old also used the lecture to argue nuclear power "must be part of the long term response" to global warming.

"It is a very clean source of energy."

Mr Howard later criticised the ABC for being captured by climate change "alarmists".

"The groupthink at the ABC on this issue is quite clear," he said during the question and answer session after his lecture.

"On this issue it's signed up - there's no doubt about that."

The former prime minister said the Murdoch press, particularly The Australian newspaper, was more sceptical.

"(But) talkback radio commentators in Australia have more political influence than they do in this country (and) they are ferociously sceptical.

"So we have had, for some time, a more balanced debate."

###

[Neferti]

FORMER PM John Howard thinks there'll never be a worldwide climate change agreement and admits he only backed emissions trading before the 2007 election because he faced a "perfect storm" on the issue.

Sorry. What is this word there'll? Some words are shortened by the apostrophe but there will? I don't think so.

Anyway. I shouldn't be responding to a Climate Change thread. I rejected this nonsense when I first heard about the "hole in the ozone layer" in the 80's. Nothing has changed, just the name .... My eyes glaze over every single time I hear the words "climate change" ...

Other than that. Howard. He is becoming a dear old soul. He looked much better with glasses. Y*A*W*N*

Former Prime Ministers should fade away, gracefully. I doubt Tony Abbott listens to John Howard ... Tony has his own style of "management", as they all do! It is called EGO.

I shall be watching Parliament on Foxtel once it resumes. Not just Question Time ... or the snippets that ABC and the other FTA channels show, out of context, on the nightly news. Hansard does have the full texts online, but I gather the Media doesn't bother with that ... TRUTH doesn't sell, GOSSIP and INNUENDO does. Some people don't know the difference.

[Rorschach]

There'll

yep fine.
I suggest you read an article/topic before assuming what it's about...

My point was that Howard never personally really supported an ETS... which is what I've been telling the dumb Progs for many many years... and now we have it right from the horses mouth.

"I've always been agnostic about it (climate change)," Mr Howard told reporters in London before his address.

"I don't completely dismiss the more dire warnings but I instinctively feel that some of the claims are exaggerated.

"I don't accept all of the alarmist conclusions."

Mr Howard said he'd grown up being told ulcers were caused by stress but it was later revealed a virus was to blame.

"You can never be absolutely certain that all the science is in."

Before the 2007 federal election then prime minister Howard pledged a re-elected conservative government would introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS).

But he now says that was because by late 2006 his government hit a "perfect storm" with ongoing drought, severe water restrictions, bushfires and the release of the Stern Review and Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth.

"To put it bluntly, 'doing something' about global warming gathered strong political momentum in Australia," Mr Howard said in his written lecture.

It was all politics....

[Neferti]

There'll

yep fine.
I suggest you read an article/topic before assuming what it's about...

My point was that Howard never personally really supported an ETS... which is what I've been telling the dumb Progs for many many years... and now we have it right from the horses mouth.

"I've always been agnostic about it (climate change)," Mr Howard told reporters in London before his address.

"I don't completely dismiss the more dire warnings but I instinctively feel that some of the claims are exaggerated.

"I don't accept all of the alarmist conclusions."

Mr Howard said he'd grown up being told ulcers were caused by stress but it was later revealed a virus was to blame.

"You can never be absolutely certain that all the science is in."

Before the 2007 federal election then prime minister Howard pledged a re-elected conservative government would introduce an emissions trading scheme (ETS).

But he now says that was because by late 2006 his government hit a "perfect storm" with ongoing drought, severe water restrictions, bushfires and the release of the Stern Review and Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth.

"To put it bluntly, 'doing something' about global warming gathered strong political momentum in Australia," Mr Howard said in his written lecture.

It was all politics....

IT WAS ALL ABOUT POLITICS.

Howard lost the Election in 2007. So?

Now we have ABBOTT ...........

In the year 2020 we will still have a Federal Government that only 49% of the population cares about. Big deal.

[Rorschach]

you keep missing the point Nef... try again tomorrow.

A few hints.... The Leftards say Howard backed an ETS...
well what's the real truth?

[boxy]

Yay, another non-scientist says climate change doesn't "feel" right. One that admits that he only does things because they are politically convenient (that is what he is saying).

YAWN.

[mantra]

John Howard says climate change 'exaggerated'
* by: AAP
* From: News Limited Network
* November 06, 2013 8:27AM

FORMER PM John Howard thinks there'll never be a worldwide climate change agreement and admits he only backed emissions trading before the 2007 election because he faced a "perfect storm" on the issue.

Anyone with half a brain could see that was the case. Howard was always the populist and would say anything to get a vote. Fortunately at that time the country was fed up with him anyway.

[Rorschach]

Yay, another non-scientist says climate change doesn't "feel" right. One that admits that he only does things because they are politically convenient (that is what he is saying).

YAWN.

Not the point boxy... do try again.

[Rorschach]

John Howard says climate change 'exaggerated'
* by: AAP
* From: News Limited Network
* November 06, 2013 8:27AM

FORMER PM John Howard thinks there'll never be a worldwide climate change agreement and admits he only backed emissions trading before the 2007 election because he faced a "perfect storm" on the issue.

Anyone with half a brain could see that was the case. Howard was always the populist and would say anything to get a vote. Fortunately at that time the country was fed up with him anyway.

Hallelujah....!!!
I was almost praying you'd get it mantra... well done.
Maybe the Howard hate all those years helped, buy hooray right on the button.

I don't care that Howard lost. he was losing the plot IMO with Workchioices and Climate Change ETS, was as you say, his lurch to regain ground on the issue.

My point has been... that lately the LW Progs have been using Howard as an example of why the Libs should do what the ALP want... drop the tax and implement an ETS... after all Howard and turnbull were going to.

But Turnbull wanted to because he's and ex-banker and a Wet.
Howard wanted to because he thought he was losing the election (which he was) and it would negate that issue. Unfortunately he didn't consider Workchoices was a bigger issue with many people and he'd lost the plot on that.

Howard never really backed and ETS, he was an agnostic on the issue. he was trapped in what he saw was a "perfect storm" a no win situation.

[Hebe]

"AUSTRALIA will be represented by a diplomat rather than a senior minister at international climate talks in Poland next week aimed at securing an agreement to cut global carbon emissions.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt won't attend the annual Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meeting, saying he'll be busy repealing the carbon tax in the first fortnight of parliament.

Pathetic and embarrassing

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6754823154

Mind you, Hunt's so dumb he probably wouldn't have known what they were talking about anyway.