[Greens-Media] Howard Climate change policy written by Bush

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

Howard Climate change policy written by Bush

02.06.07

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today accused Prime Minister John Howard of
outsourcing Australia's climate change policy to George W Bush.

"Its more that an little suspicious that John Howard announces that he
will wait until next year before deciding on any targets for greenhouse
gas emissions on the same day the President Bush announces a strategy
that may set targets some time in 2008.

The White House strategy announced by Bush yesterday says:

Today, President Bush Announced U.S. Support For An Effort To Develop A
New Post-2012 Framework On Climate Change By The End Of 2008.
	*	In creating a new framework, the major emitters will
work together to develop a long-term global goal to reduce greenhouse
gasses.
	*	Each country will work to achieve this emissions goal by
establishing its own ambitious mid-term national targets and programs,
based on national circumstance

John Howard's emission trading taskforce has said;

	*	Government should set targets in 2008
	*	No emission trading until 2011 at the earliest

"The Prime Minister appears not content to let George W Bush set
Australia's foreign policy he is now letting President Bush write our
climate change policy too.

"Like his former Texan oil baron friend President Bush John Howard is
more interested in the views of oil and coal companies than climate
scientists.

"The inability of this government to think independently of the US
administration is more than embarrassing its threatening the
environmental economic and physical security of Australia

"The world must limit global warming to less than two degrees if we are
to avoid catastrophic climate change. John Howard's 'follow Bush' plan
will not do that.

"The Greens are calling for a clear target of 30% reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 80% by
2050. We don't make up these numbers it's what the best science is
telling us we must do."

Contact Jon Edwards 0428 213 146