Cabinet papers reveal Howard warned of disaster risk before rejecting Kyoto Protocol
Speaking at the release of the 2005 cabinet papers, former minister Philip Ruddock said the government had extensive scientific research about the consequences of unchecked emissions.
Cabinet papers reveal Howard warned of disaster risk before rejecting Kyoto Protocol
The Howard government was explicitly warned of the risk of catastrophic climate impacts – including bushfires and systemic environmental failure – years before it refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, according to former minister Philip Ruddock and newly released cabinet documents.
Speaking at the release of the previously confidential material, made available on January 1 by the National Archives of Australia, Ruddock said the government had received extensive scientific research showing the serious environmental and societal consequences of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions.
The 10-page submission to cabinet, dated August 8, 2005, reveals that ministers were aware of mounting international scientific concern about global warming and the likely consequences of inaction, even as internal debate continued over whether Australia should commit to binding emissions targets.
Former minister Philip Ruddock has revealed the Howard government was warned of the dire consequences of inaction on climate change, including bushfires.Credit: James Brickwood
The paper predicted climate change would place significant pressure on water resources in the cities and rural areas, with reduced rainfall and more severe droughts in south-west and south-eastern Australia.
“The Howard government, while not ratifying Kyoto, was very cognisant of the research that had been done in relation to climate change,” Ruddock said.
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“These documents indicate that there were others who had doubts about whether they were willing to commit to negotiations on Kyoto-style greenhouse gas emissions targets. Nevertheless, they were very persuasive in suggesting that we needed to be cognisant of the many human and natural systems failures that are likely to result if we don’t address climate change.”
Ruddock noted that cabinet papers made explicit reference to environmental risks that resonate strongly today, including bushfires – a threat that recent weeks’ fires across New South Wales have tragically underlined – and hinted there were lessons for the modern-day Liberal Party.
