Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Recently I met with members of the Climate Commission, as did other members of the committee which I chair, and that includes the member for Shortland. I also attended the presentations by the commission both here in Parliament House and in Adelaide. Furthermore, I attended a Christian coalition on climate change forum, which the member for Isaacs and the member for Flinders also attended, where we heard from a scientist there and other speakers on the issue of climate change.

It is clear to me from the summaries provided by all of those at each of those forums that the evidence supporting the view that climate change is real and that carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to it is very strong. However, it is also clear that there is a campaign underway of some kind to discredit that science. I was very pleased to hear this morning that some of the scientists have come out in support of their fellow scientists on this very issue.

My question to you, Minister, is twofold. Firstly, are you aware—and I appreciate the response you gave earlier to the member for Shortland—of any country or any government that refutes the science of climate change? Secondly, given that it is quite often raised that carbon dioxide emissions are contributing and that what we need is a global response, can you advise as to what the next stage of the post-Copenhagen process will be?

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