Climate change review author Garnaut linked to ocean pollution

Professor Ross Garnaut's Climate Change Review recommends huge reductions in the amount of carbon dumped into the atmosphere. On the other hand, Professor Garnaut is the highly paid – roughly US$300,00 (AU$324,000) a year – chairman of Lihir Gold Limited, which dumps millions of tons of mine and gold extraction waste, including heavy metals and cyanide, into the ocean off Papua New Guinea, a practice that wouldn't be allowed off Australia.

Lihir gold dumps its wastes into the ocean for the same reason carbon is dumped into the atmosphere: it's the most convenient means of disposal. Garnaut insists Lihir is environmentally responsible but the jury's still out on his claim. Regardless, Garnaut is definitely a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do kind of guy.