Wong delays emissions target | theage.com.au

AUSTRALIA'S delay in announcing its 2020 greenhouse target until after a UN summit is a defensive move suggesting the Government will not take a lead in post-Kyoto talks.

That assessment comes from observers of the climate negotiation process. .

Despite assurances that Climate Change Minister Penny Wong would fly to the summit in the Polish city of Poznan with a target on the table, the announcement has been delayed until December 15 — three days after talks conclude.

The delay also means Australia will not reveal its target until European leaders try to paper over growing divisions on a plan to cut emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020.

Jennifer Marohasy » Obama to tell 10,000 in Poland about Science

How did we get to this sorry state of affairs?

I would be much happier if Mr Obama didn’t claim to know anything about “the science”. Why doesn’t he just say: “I am a lawyer by training, but I have been lead to believe sea levels are rising.”?

Why does he, and every other politician, claim to understand the science of climate change?