[Greens-Media] Senator Christine Milne: Greenhouse emissions 'out of control' as the PM and Labor refuse to take on the big end of town

[O'Connor, Cassy (Sen C. Milne)]

		Friday, 27 April 2007

		Greenhouse emissions 'out of control' as the P.M. and
Labor refuse to take on the big end of town

		Greenhouse emissions from the national energy sector are
soaring and Australia will fail to meet its Kyoto target according to
the latest findings of The Climate Institute.  Australian Greens climate
change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, says it's a damning
indictment of the Howard Government's policy failure.

		"This Government has ignorantly and arrogantly wasted an
entire decade. Each year the warning light flashes brighter and the
alarm rings louder - yet after eleven years the Prime Minister continues
to assure us that there is nothing to worry about.  He could not be more
wrong.

		"The Climate Institute has found that our energy
consumption emissions have increased by 22.5 million tonnes since 2004,
with the burning of coal, oil and gas the main contributors.

		"Climate science dictates that rich nations will need to
reduce greenhouse emissions by 30% by 2020. Instead, under Prime
Minister Howard, Australia remains on track to increase our emissions by
30% over that period. 

		"The best way to have an immediate impact on energy
consumption is to implement national energy efficiency targets, as the
Greens have outlined in our report, Re-energising Australia.  

		"The Howard Government and Labor should support the
Greens' push to require Australia's 250 largest energy users - who are
responsible for around 40% of stationary energy emissions - to implement
their energy efficiency audits.  Twice in the Senate, the government and
Labor have voted together to defeat our efforts to have the big energy
users implement these audits.

		"If the two major parties of government do not commit to
taking on the 250 big energy users, it will demonstrate that the
political support of the big end of town is more important to the
Liberals and Labor than reducing our emissions and protecting our
children's future.

		"Unless the Liberals and Labor commit to reining in the
greenhouse pollution generated by the nation's big energy users,
Australia will never achieve significant reductions in CO2-e emissions.

		"Let's hope the Prime Minister and Kevin Rudd see the
light on this issue, and put the interests of farmers, the Great Barrier
Reef, Kakadu and Australian children in the future ahead of their
corporate mates," Senator Milne said.

		The Climate Institute Fact Sheet can be found at:
	
http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/cia1/downloads/270407%20Australia%20O
ff%20Track%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Media contact:  Cassy O'Connor    03 6224 8899  or 0400 628 939