Weak target sees Govt fail crucial leadership test
Date: 15-Dec-2008
The Federal Government has failed a major climate change leadership test with its white paper on emissions trading, the Australian Conservation Foundation said.
“A weak target to cut emissions by just 5–15 per cent by 2020 will not position Australia to save the Reef, Kakadu or the Australian Alps,” said ACF executive director Don Henry.
“Australians have not given permission for our government to give up on our much loved and important natural icons.
“ACF is deeply concerned about the billions of taxpayers’ dollars that this scheme plans to hand directly to the big polluters, with virtually no strings attached.
“This could herald a new era of pollution protectionism.”
“The weak targets announced today will damage Australia’s international reputation and hold back progress towards an effective international agreement,” Mr Henry said.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s advice that developed countries, as a group, must reduce their carbon pollution by 25–40 per cent is already on the table of international negotiations.
“Today the Prime Minister said Australia would seek a 450ppm outcome in the international negotiations, noting that this would give the world a chance of avoiding the worst of climate change, however this does not fit with his target numbers.
“Professor Garnaut said for Australia to do its full and fair share to achieve this global goal, Australia would need to cut emissions by 25 per cent cut by 2020.
“A weak target to cut emissions by just 5–15 per cent by 2020 is simply not credible.”
ACF is urging all sides of politics to do more to secure a global agreement by supporting a much stronger 2020 target ahead of the crucial United Nations’ climate conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.