There's good news and bad news

THE science and technology of climate change have moved on a lot since economist Ross Garnaut released his landmark report for Labor in 2008.

The good news is that low-carbon technologies are getting better and cheaper much more quickly than Professor Garnaut had anticipated.

But in the area of climate science, Professor Garnaut says, the news is all bad.

He is careful not to gloat when he says climate sceptics can find nothing to cheer about in the real peer-reviewed published science on global warming. He says he wishes it were not so.

But after reviewing the latest literature to update his report, Professor Garnaut has hardened his view that climate change is accelerating, with temperatures and sea level rises at the top end of forecasts, or beyond. And he restates his position that, as a heavily carbon-dependent economy and fragile environment, Australia has the most to lose by not taking urgent measures to tackle climate change.

Fresh from visits to China and the US, Professor Garnaut is convinced global action to cut carbon emissions is taking place more quickly than the negative headlines from the climate conferences in Cancun and Copenhagen would suggest.

He still believes Australia's best strategy is to start small but be prepared to increase the effort as the global community gets its act together in a co-ordinated response. But as before, he argues that the longer we wait, the greater the economic cost will be.

Delivery of Professor Garnaut's eight-part update to his original report, commissioned by then opposition leader Kevin Rudd, is geared to fit into the government's timetable to negotiate a mechanism to put a price on carbon this year.

In Melbourne last night, Professor Garnaut built his case for action with a cost-benefit analysis of moving early.

On Monday in Sydney he will outline what has changed on the global scene since 2008.

Other updates will deal with the science, and make suggestions on how the government can respond to the challenge.

Professor Garnaut's review is all good stuff, but the real battle for Labor is still political.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet insists the government has not settled on a model of a carbon tax, a trading scheme or a hybrid of the two.

But having cleared the decks of distractions such as the car subsidies scheme and house refits to focus on the main challenge of putting a price on carbon this year, Mr Combet is under pressure to deliver some real action.