Economist Ross Garnaut’s Supplementary Report, released today, is a “cop-out” according to climate action group, Rising Tide.

The respected economist has today put forward recommendations not based on need, but on political outlook.

The report recommends greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 10 per cent from 2000 levels by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.

The report also delivers much-needed reality-checks, including a warning that we face “fateful choices” and the very real possibility that the entire planet, its societies, economies and ecosystems will be devastated by climate change to the point of “collapse and chaos.”

But Rising Tide claims that Garnaut’s emission reduction trajectory will trigger the much-feared “feedback” mechanism – where the natural systems of the planet begin to die and emit greenhouse gases of their own accord in vast quantities – thereby pushing climate change out of control.

Rising Tide spokesperson, Georgina Woods said, “Professor Garnaut admits that more should be done, and frankly acknowledges what we have to lose, but claims that more effective reductions are not achievable. This is an unacceptable admission of defeat before we have even begun to try. We owe the global community, not to mention our children, a better effort than that.

“Australia has a shameful record in the international community, and it looks like very little has changed. We are still clinging to the lowest common denominator.”

“At the end of next year, Australia will join the rest of the world in Copenhagen to try to reach agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and avert the unimaginable impacts of runaway climate change. To have any chance of success, we have to be ambitious, stout-hearted and inspirational.”

“Garnaut’s advice to the Government is: don’t even try.”

Further comment: Georgina Woods 0438 223 771