Aussies get the global warming message

Australia is the world's leading emitter of carbon dioxide and appears to be paying the price. It is currently experiencing its worst drought in living memory blamed in part at least on global warming.

But this non-signer of the Kyoto Protocol seems to be getting the message. The Australian government has announced it will contribute $64-million out of a total cost of $359-million toward a 154-megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant. The plant, to be fully operational by 2013, will be the biggest in the world and provide clean electricity for 45,000 homes. Fields of mirrors will focus sunlight on high performance solar cells originally developed to power satellites. The plant will be one of a series of clean energy projects receiving government funding.

Unfortunately, Australia remains the world's major coal exporter and will continue to depend heavily on coal for its own rapidly increasing demand for electricity. Nonetheless, the conservative government does seem to be slowly coming to terms with reality. Finance Minister Peter Costello confesses, "I accept the scientific evidence, which is that global warming is taking place, that it is caused by carbon emissions, that restraining the increase in carbon emissions will counteract that process of global warming and that we should play our part." Well said, Peter, and about time.