Arguing targets

BBC News - 55 countries send UN their carbon-curbing plans

We'll be hearing more about this, no doubt. Especially this section:

The US previously pledged a cut of 17% from 2005 levels by 2020 (equivalent to 3% from the conventional baseline of 1990).

But its current submission promises a cut "in the range of 17%, in conformity with anticipated US energy and climate legislation, recognising that the final target will be reported to the Secretariat in light of enacted legislation".

Canada will also amend its target of 17% to make it align "with the final economy-wide emissions target of the US in enacted legislation".

And as for the other big players:

Among developing countries, China re-affirms that its 2020 target is a cut of 40-45% in carbon intensity and that this is to be regarded as voluntary, while India has retreated from a firm pledge to improve its energy intensity to a position where it promises to "endeavour reduce its emissions intensity" by 2020.

I guess there are ways this can be spun for both Rudd and Abbott. Abbott will argue that Rudd's tiny target is still ahead of the USA; Rudd can say that what he is doing is consistent with China's "reduce carbon intensity" approach.

What I am waiting for is a journalist to say to Abbott - "what is your reasoning for taking any action at all, given that we know that a claimed majority of your party believes that there is no reason to do anything at all about CO2 emissions, and you yourself described global warming as "crap" barely 4 months ago?"