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3(a) 1.    Magnitude of Climate Change

In the pretext of progress and achieving a higher standard of living, recent generations of First World Countries have burnt copious Fossil Fuels in their obsession with Economic Materialism.  China, India, Russia, Brazil and Indonesia are now following suit: 

A.         On average, each of over 300,000,000 Americans is responsible for about 22 tons of GHGs p.a., according to statistics compiled by the U.N. 

B.         According to the World Wildlife Fund, an average:

 *          U.S. citizen requires 10 hectares of the planet to support its Lifestyle Behaviour.

 *          each Australian requires 7.7 global hectares per capita.

 *          European citizen needs over five hectares.

 *          each person in Africa draws on about one hectare of Earth’s resources to remove the C from CO2.

C.        The U.S.A. accounts for –

             *           between 5% and 6% of the global population; and

             *           26% circa of the global Carbon Footprint. 

             Europe and countries like Australia in the Asia Pacific also have very large Carbon Footprints. 

D.         Australia's Ecological Footprint in the Living Planet Report 2004 was 7.7 global hectares (gha) per person.  This is over 3 times the average global Footprint (2.2 gha), and well beyond the level of what the planet can regenerate on an annual basis - an equivalent of about 1.8 global hectares per person per year.  The most significant factor contributing to the Australian Ecological Footprint is CO2 emissions from Fossil Fuels (constituting approximately half of the total Australian Footprint).

Climate Change is detrimental to QOL and future global productivity.  A phalanx of eminent scientists have presented compelling and objective empirical evidence that unless humans Materially Alter Lifestyle which leaves a small Carbon Footprint, future generations will pay a high price for recent human preoccupation with Economic Materialism. 

The InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”) jointly shared the 2007 Nobel Peace prize with Al Gore for their efforts to –

(i)         gather and disseminate knowledge about Climate Change; and

(ii)        lay the foundations for the measures needed to counteract such adverse Climate Change.

In May 2007 the IPCC, at meeting in Bangkok that drew scientists, environmentalists and government officials from over 120 countries, unanimously agreed that a shift in lifestyles is required to reduce Climate Change.

"There was no opposition; it was approved without question,” added Catherine Pearce of the environmental lobby Friends of the Earth International after the close of the week-long meeting ending Friday, with the release of the ‘Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change’ report.

The over 1,000 page document, which was the subject of heated debate, was the third such document circulated this year to address the dire consequences the world faces due to GHG Emissions and the global response required.

The summary of 1,000 report, unanimously approved by the ninth session of the IPCC Working Group III, noted:

¨            "Changes in lifestyles and consumption patterns that emphasise resource conservation can contribute to developing a low-carbon economy that is both equitable and sustainable”.

¨           "Changes in occupant behaviour, cultural patterns and consumer choice and use of technologies can result in considerable reduction in carbon dioxide emissions related to energy use in buildings”.