Gust Of Hot Air: Rudd to decrease emissions by how much?

If we assume that CO2 has caused 100% of the 0.7 degre increase that we have seen over the past 100 years (extremly unlikely - even the IPCC don't perscribe to this, but still - for interests sake), then australia cutting greenshouse gasses by 5% will result in a decrease of

0.00042 degrees per 100 years, or

0.0000042 degree decrease per year.

Well done Kevid Rudd!!

CLIMATE, CLIMATE, CLIMATE -- in Australia

Now that the Australian government has released its detailed carbon-control policies, there is a huge debate ongoing in Australia's newspapers. Most writers approve of the very limited nature of the proposals but the Greens have turned purple with rage. From the big spate of articles, I have chosen to put up below three surprisingly skeptical articles from the "Canberra Times", the newspaper of Australia's capital city -- usually thought to be rather Left-leaning. I then add a short overview article.

Turbulence for Two East Coast Offshore Wind Farms - Green Inc. Blog - NYTimes.com

Two offshore wind farms proposed along the East Coast are running into some turbulence.

Colorful journey of Obama's energy pick includes Nobel | National | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Chu's goal there has been to make the lab a world leader in alternative and renewable energy research, particularly with the development of carbon-neutral energy sources. Chu brought in fellow scientist William Collins to head the lab's climate sciences department.

Collins' team has been focused on creating climate models that would give scientists insights on the ramifications of an abrupt change in climate — a breakup of Antarctic ice, say, or changes in vegetation at higher altitudes.

As the nation develops new renewable energy sources, Collins said, scientists at the lab want to understand what the climate ramifications of those new fuels might be.

"We really believe that climate and energy are inextricably linked, and we think that advances in our methods of energy production will lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and help improve our climate," Collins said.

Chu would oversee a department with a budget of more than $23 billion and more than 100,000 employees and contractors. His nomination requires Senate confirmation.