Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Lundy for her question and for her interest in the science of climate change. Discussion on the link between global warming and carbon pollution in fact began in the 1890s. The fact is that mainstream science has been establishing the link for over 20 years. Those opposite might like to be aware that, globally, 13 of the 14 warmest years on record occurred between 1995 and 2008. Just last week, we saw the release of the Copenhagen synthesis report. This report represents the most significant update of climate science since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change fourth assessment report in 2007. If senators in this chamber want to have a look at it, this report does make for disturbing reading. What it tells us is that climate change is happening faster and having an even bigger impact than we previously thought. The report confirms that the ocean has warmed significantly in recent years and current estimates indicate that ocean warming is about 50 per cent greater than had been previously reported by the IPCC. I will repeat that: current estimates indicate that—