Last week saw both the US and China take strong steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions. So naturally, Australia's Tony Abbott is trying to organise other countries against it:
Tony Abbott is seeking a conservative alliance among "like-minded" countries, aiming to dismantle global moves to introduce carbon pricing, and undermine a push by US President Barack Obama to push the case for action through forums such as the G20.
Visiting Ottawa for a full day of talks with the conservative Canadian Prime Minister and close friend Stephen Harper, Mr Abbott flagged intentions to build a new centre-right alliance led by Canada, Britain and Australia along with India and New Zealand.
[...]
The combined front would attempt to counter recent moves by the Obama administration to lift the pace of climate change abatement via policies such as a carbon tax or state-based emissions trading. It is a calculated attempt to push back against what both leaders see as a left-liberal agenda in favour of higher taxes, unwise interventions to address global warming, and an unhealthy attitude of state intervention.
Yes, seriously: Abbott is trying to organise a global alliance to stop people from saving the world. That really does take the cake for regression.
Meanwhile, it is disturbing to see New Zealand included on Abbott's list of possible allies. Someone really needs to ask John Key where he stands on this, and force him to either publicly reject Abbott, or give up on his pretence to care about climate change.
