I am an energy sector worker but like to think that I have a holistic view on the greenhouse debate and am also naturally imbued with a healthy dose of scepticism.

Nevertheless I firmly believe that anthropogenic climate change is occurring and at faster than expected rates, and that we must do all we can inidividually to help out.

It is our duty as citizens of the planet to help those who are less "advanced" than ourselves. Of course this "advancement", like beauty, is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Australia may very well only produce 1% of the global CO2 output, however this ignores the fact that Australia as a per capita emitter of CO2 is the highest in the world, and also takes no account of the fact that we as one of the world's biggest coal exporters are also one of the biggest exporters of CO2.

Australia - like the majority of the so-called "developed" world - has enjoyed enormous economic benefits due to the harvesting and profit associated with fossil fuels.

We do not have a right, having ridden the wave of the fossil fuel boom, to then say to "developing" nations that they can not enjoy the same benefits.

If we wish to do so then it is only fair that we bear the financial burden of helping the "developing" nations to cope with the CO2 emissions associated with rapid economic and social advancement.

To put things in perspective, China in the next 10 years will bring on more coal fired power generating capacity than has been brought online in the whole of Western Europe since 1945. Should we bury our heads in the sand and say "not my problem", or move towards being a major part of the solution?

Surely we have a duty of care to help China manage their emissions?

Australia should be at the forefront of research into not only alternative energy - after all we are blessed with solar energy - but also into CO2 geosequestration, which is a proven technology in other areas of the world.

We can reap enormous benefits by developing the technology and transferring it to high emitting countries such as China and India. These benefits are undoubtedly economic and also come in the form of associated benefits such as kudos and reputation.

To finish I would like firstly to paraphrase from the Stern report and echo the fact that the cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of early action. And secondly what right do we have to bequeath our grandchildren and future generations the legacy of climate destruction which will happen if we do not act?