Venerable Canadian environmentalist Dr David Suzuki today delivered a broadside at the Federal Government's credentials on climate change, saying it was an international outlaw for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
The Australian Government had done nothing and been in denial when the world was in the midst of deep trouble over global warming, he said.
Dr Suzuki also cast aside Australia's criticism of whaling nations, saying it had little credibility on the global scene to be lecturing other nations.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement by which signatory nations commit to reducing their industries' greenhouse emissions within a given timeframe.
The United States and Australia are the only two developed countries, which have refused to sign it.
"By rejecting Kyoto, Mr Howard declares that Australia is an international outlaw, not to be bound by these kinds of treaties the rest of the world agrees to," Dr Suzuki told the National Press Club.
"Today, I believe that future generations will look back on the inactivity, the unwillingness to do anything, as a crime against future generations.
"It's outrageous that we are not taking advantage of foresight, our predictive capacity to see where the dangers lie, seize the opportunities and make our way into a more liveable future."
Dr Suzuki, a scientist and prolific author, said he was not flatly opposed to nuclear generation of electricity, but found Mr Howard's attitude towards nuclear energy confusing.
"Mr Howard is now warning that global warming is happening. Thank God. It's about time," he said.
"So, boom, right away the solution is nuclear power. No discussion looking at the bigger picture and long-term survivability. Boom, here's the technological solution.
"This is nuts. This is not the way that we've got to look at the big picture and see the interconnectivity and work out a way that is truly sustainable."
Neither politicians, the business community or the media were spared Dr Suzuki's wrath over inaction on climate change in a passionate speech.
Asked for an opinion on the current debate about the viability of marginal farming land in Australia, Dr Suzuki was typically forthright.
"Folks are going to have to start biting the bullet and saying 'Maybe that land would be better left for other purposes, like letting other species flourish'," he said.
"Just because we've come in and now turned that soil, it's awful to try to change or get people off the land.
"We've got to bite the bullet, it seems to me.
"But it should be done in a much greater forum, to have the whole country engaged in this process, not just a bunch of politicians knee-jerking around and trying to appease this group and deal with that group and trying to put bandages here and there."
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