[Greens-Media] Howard's election reassurance to polluters and nukes

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Howard's election reassurance to polluters and nukes

If this is Prime Minister John Howard's big picture response to climate
change it is a complete failure, Greens Climate Change spokesperson
Senator Christine Milne said today.

"This is an election driven response, not a climate driven response,"
Senator Milne said today.

"There are no science-driven targets, no role for Kyoto and no
incentives for renewable energy. After a decade of inaction and active
frustration of global efforts, Mr Howard is delusional about Australia's
global role in forging a new treaty to tackle climate change." 

"This announcement is an indication that if John Howard wins government
again he won't tackle polluters, he'll give them free permits to pollute
and the cheap option of a safety-valve if they exceed their permits.
This trading scheme is being designed for polluters, not for the
planet," Senator Milne said.
 
"Prime Minister Howard still does not understand that the whole reason
for emissions trading is to save the climate, not give free permits to
the coal industry and the big end of town." 

"The IPCC has shown that deep cuts in emissions are required if the
world has any hope of constraining global temperature rise to less than
2 degrees. By 2015 global emissions must peak. But under Mr Howard's
scheme Australia will have barely started." 

"An emissions trading scheme should set a rigorous target with a high
enough penalty fee to drive compliance. It needs to be complemented by
an increase mandatory renewable energy target and feed in laws. The
whole thrust of his announcement today is to give the appearance of
tackling climate change whilst doing nothing more than developing a
system that is slow to start, begins with low carbon price and gives a
warm inner-glow to the coal and nuclear industries," Senator Milne said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603

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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au