[Chris Hanson]

As the world watches or ignores the deliberations in Copenhagen this week, I'd like to ask: what is your country's stance on climate change? Is there any significant debate about it? Does it seem to matter?

Here in Australia, just last week, the Federal Opposition (the Liberal/National coalition that were voted out two years ago) has changed its leadership and policy because of this issue, moving to a very conservative position. It's a contentious matter here: the Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, wanted Australia to lead the world in legislating for an Emissions Trading Scheme (Cap-and-trade, I think it's called in some countries). He almost had the opposition on side until the new Liberal leader, Tony Abbott, declared that he would oppose the scheme. It failed to get through the Parliament as a result.
It is likely to be the core issue at the 2010 federal election, due around October-November.

Anyway, that's a summary of our recent story. Yours?

Do you personally think there's anything much to come out of Copenhagen?