No Place Like Oz

Australia, like the United States, is a coal country (the fourth-largest coal producer in the world). Also, like the United States, it is not party to the Kyoto Treaty on greenhouse gas emissions, making it the only other "industrialized" hold-out. At the same time, it is one of the countries liable to be hit first and hardest by predicted climate changes. Indeed, some effects -- i.e., prolonged drought, crop failures, coral reef die-off and megafires -- are already manifest on the continent. Perhaps due to such alarming climate-related signals, the country is finally taking some substantive steps to conserve energy and cut back on CO2 emissions. To wit, Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the government's intention to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs entirely within three years. Energy experts and environmental groups welcomed news of the initiative, which faces no serious political opposition. The hope is that this measure will lead to other, similarly effective changes, such as a switch from conventional water heaters to solar ones. Sounds like the right idea. If there's one thing, besides coal, that Australia has in abundance, it's sunshine.