Our democracy is not representing the people – it is representing industry interests and ignoring (or paying lip service to) the science

The UN is where the self-interest of nations overwhelms the common good – the ongoing rich country – poor country dichotomy. The perils of climate change are just another dimension to this ongoing issue. But it is a dimenstion that now threatens life on earth as we know it.

And our leaders have the audacity to presume to have the high ground on environmental action, presume to be “players” on the international stage, see themselves as deal makers. What the……………….

But most importantly did other nation notice all of this? Do other leaders see the ludicrous nature of our position. Of course they did.

More than any other nation, we are to blame for the shit fight at Copenhagen.

So there was agreement of sorts. I, personally, feel that the failure at Copenhagen was more the fault of Australia than of any other nation. Australia, as the worlds highest per capita emitter, has done the least of any other country to physically act on Global Warming, and Australia has compromised the least while demanding the most of others. Rudd and Wong both were proud to claim that Australia “punches above its weight”, only in this case it was a knock out blow.

“I might add Anthony Nolan that pointing to the unethical conduct of a regime doesn’t entail supposing that every policy it follows is irrational.”

In the case of an absolute monarchy – yes it does. While the US is irrational in ways that fascinate it is nevertheless subject to the rational public administrative regime that typifies governance in modernity. Absolute monarchies are not subject to rational administrative processes and they are not in any way hindered by other expectations, such as transparency or accountability. When considering our own decisions it is absurd to take examples from states such as the UAE which lack even the fundamentals of modern governance such as administrative review tribunals, separation of executive power from administration and so on.

If you reject this then you may as well argue that North Korean nuclear policy is best practice.

Had you cited Sweden as a model then I would have addressed the deficits of Swedish decision making which are specific to the particular model of social-democracy there. Unfortunately, however, you cited the UAE I guess in an attempt to convince BilB that even an abundance of sunshine in places like the UAE doesn’t add up to a convincing case for the UAE to adopt solar and this is because of the technological deficits of solar. Arguing by example failed because I offered a counter interpretation using the same example which suggested that the UAE decision for nukes over solar had little to do with a rational policy decision and more to do, like everything else that happens in the UAE, with the interests of people who think they are god/king rulers.

Many people think Sweden a fine place but it does use nuclear power and is likely to contract more in coming years. Just as well too, for Swedish Nuclear and German Coal, along with Norwegian Hydro underpin the feasibility of West Danish off-shore wind.

I can’t help but wonder what you’d have said if the UAE had gone with CSP and I’d raised your argument against it … Perhaps I shouldn’t wonder.

Fran

What on earth are you talking about? Regardless of how the windfall is divided the fact is that the retail price for electricity has gone up 20%, and will go up another 44% or 58%, depending on who supplies my electricity. There is no other way of reading that SMH article (@81). And CPRS compliance is cited as be the primary driver. 75% by 2013 is exactly what is signalled. The fact that the 20% was quietly applied before the press got onto it some months later might suggest that 75% is not the bottom line at all, it could well go higher.

Marks: if yr accusing me of deliberate obtuseness then say so but it was not my purpose. Besdies, who contests what facts about the UAE?

Facts from Wiki:

“Politics of the United Arab Emirates takes place in a framework of a federal, presidential, elected monarchy. The UAE is a federation of seven absolute monarchies: the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain. The ruler of Abu Dhabi is President of the United Arab Emirates, the head of state, and the ruler of Dubai is the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, the head of government.”
Wiki

I don’t know about you but I don’t accept that any meaningful social policy development is possible within an absolute monarchy. I dismiss any decision within those states on the ground that they are made as executive fiat and therefore don’t represent anything other than the will and interest of a ruling clique. The rationality of the decision is redundant under those circumstances.