Leading climate change sceptic Professor Bob Carter believes the cost of implementing an emissions trading scheme on the average family will be between $3000 and $4000 a year based on a carbon dioxide tax of $30/tonne.

Prof Carter will be speaking independently in Shepparton on June 24 as part of a tour organised by Australian Climate Science Coalition.

"People need to be informed, we are sleep-walking to disaster," Prof Carter said.

He said, based on a computer model, proposed carbon dioxide savings achieved by the scheme would only prevent warming by between one 10 000th or one 100 000th of a degree Celsius by 2100.

"People have no idea how draconian and costly these changes will be on people's lifestyle," he said.

Prof Carter is a science adviser and marine geologist at James Cook University in Queensland.

He believes, after 20 years of intensive research and great expenditure, there is not enough evidence existing to link CO

²

emissions with global warming.

"With the emissions trading legislation featured in the news again recently, what better time to discuss the contentious issue of human-caused global warming and adaptive scientifically-backed policies to deal with natural climate change that won't cost Australians our jobs and economy?"

Prof Carter's current research is based on field studies from the south-west Pacific region, including the Great Barrier Reef and New Zealand.

Prof Carter will discuss the latest findings on climate change, the roles humans play in this, and an outline of comprehensive strategies the nation can adopt to "deal sensibly" with the real threat of natural climate change.

"I am very much looking forward to my visit to Shepparton where I will be discussing, among other matters, the urgent need for a national climate policy that improves our ability to recognise, manage and adapt to natural climate change and events," he said.

The presentation will be delivered at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, June 24, at the Parkview Room at Country Comfort Shepparton in Wyndham St; admission is $5.