[Greens-Media] Climate Change Strategy out of sight

[Manderson, Roland]

---------------------------
ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
---------------------------


25 June 07

Climate Change Strategy funded but no agreement in sight


Deb Foskey, ACT Greens MLA, asked questions in Estimates Committee today
about the ACT Government's long overdue Climate Change Strategy. Despite
the Government setting aside funds in this budget to implement the
Strategy, there is still no sign of the Government agreeing to its
contents.

"We have been waiting for this Strategy since last December. We have
just heard today that it has indeed been prepared, but has been to
Cabinet at least twice, and sent back for rewriting."

"I am concerned that members of Cabinet just don't understand the
urgency of the climate change problem, and sadly, I have no doubt that
the strategy is being watered down with each iteration."

"Meanwhile the Government continues to crow about its participation in
the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme, which actually allows a
continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the ACT. The current
Scheme is based on a per capita benchmark, but while the population
continues to rise, this means that emissions will also rise
accordingly."

"While the rest of the world is preparing to change energy usage habits
substantially, the ACT Government has abandoned its greenhouse emission
reduction targets, won't release its Climate Change and Energy
Strategies, and won't commit to reducing the Greenhouse Gas Abatement
Scheme benchmark. We expect more from this ACT Government."

"The only thing that will justify this long wait, is a real climate
change strategy, with strong emission targets and measures. The strategy
needs to deal with health impacts, building design and biodiversity
protection."

"Despite the Government's continual verbal commitment to a Climate
Change Strategy, its delay indicates the Government is not united on
this front. Will we see this Strategy while the Climate Crisis is still
manageable?" Dr Foskey asked.

================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------