Update on Senate Estimates

This week a number of scientists and other government employees are answering questions in Senate  Estimates.  The following are some interesting excerpts from the transcripts.

1) Below, Dr A Johnson is the leader of environment and sustainability-related research at CSIRO.
Page E21 of Economics Legislation Committee Estimates (Wednesday 21 October) (pdf)

Senator JOYCE—Will a five per cent reduction in carbon emissions from Australia change the temperature of the globe?
...
Dr A Johnson—That is a very complex question. It is driven by a range of both global and national factors. I cannot— ... [t]he short answer is that which I have just given you—that there are a range of factors both globally and locally that determine the answer to that question. I cannot give you an answer to that question.
Senator JOYCE—You do not want to give an answer or you cannot?
Dr A Johnson—I cannot give you an answer to that question now. It depends on the specifics of—
Senator JOYCE—I will make it specific: a five per cent reduction of carbon emissions in Australia. Will that have an effect on the temperature of the globe?
Dr A Johnson—It is possible but, again, it would depend on a range of factors which I am not in a position to answer.

2) Later (p E34-E35) - Prof. Sackett - Chief Government Scientist "answers" some questions:
Senator JOYCE—As Chief Scientist for Australia and at the top of your role I am going to ask you a clear question because it is at the front of the economic debate at the moment and at the front of the scientific debate. Will a five per cent reduction in Australia’s carbon emissions by itself affect the temperature of the globe or change the temperature of the globe?
Prof. Sackett—To reiterate your question, you are asking whether a five per cent reduction in Australia’s emissions will affect the temperature of the globe. It certainly will; the question is by how much.
Senator JOYCE—By how much?
Prof. Sackett—I do not have that answer in front of me now, but we know—
Senator JOYCE—Will it be noticeable?
Prof. Sackett—I would have to take on notice the degree to which the temperature could be measured.
Senator JOYCE—If I park my car in the garage and stop driving it, that will have an effect on the temperature of the globe to an extremely small extent.
Prof. Sackett—Yes.
Senator JOYCE—If Australia reduces carbon emissions by five per cent, that also will have an effect. But both of them are infinitesimally small.
Prof. Sackett—This is a collective problem which requires a collective solution. When we are looking to solutions, they will require a global effort. Many cars reducing their CO2 emissions is done by individuals
collectively.

More updates to come.