[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Premier Rann no Governator

[Greens]

Media Release
28 June 2007

Premier Rann no Governator 

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has hit back at claims made by Premier Rann this morning on national radio that his Government's climate change targets were the same as California's, challenging him to a public debate on the issue.

"Rann is no Governator - while California has a legislated target that will require a massive reduction in their greenhouse emissions over the next 13 years, Premier Rann's target will increase the state's greenhouse pollution over the same time period.

"The comparison is not at all flattering for the Premier - I am amazed he is using it.  

"I challenge Premier Rann to a public debate with me on this," Mark Parnell said.

On ABC Radio National Breakfast, Premier Rann said that SA would be 'world leading' by matching the California 'return to 1990 greenhouse pollution levels by 2020' target, going on to claim that his legislation would be, with California, the 'most advanced in the world'.

However, even a cursory examination shows this is wrong. California is currently well above its 1990 pollution levels - in 2002 they were 11.5% above and increasing every year* - so legislation they passed in 2006 to return California to 1990 greenhouse levels was a major and exciting commitment. 

Meanwhile, SA is currently well below (6.5% below) its 1990 greenhouse pollution level* - therefore a 'return to 1990 levels' is actually a legislated increase.

 "It might be the same words in the target, but the effect is completely different.  While California will be helping the world avoid dangerous climate change, it appears Mike Rann is planning for SA to go in the opposite direction.

"No matter how much Premier Rann tries to spin this he can't get around the fact that his greenhouse pollution target for 1990 is a licence to increase, not decrease the state's emissions over the next 13 years.

"For the Greens, that is simply untenable - we simply can not support a target that completely ignores the latest IPCC report, which says the world's greenhouse pollution emissions have to start decreasing by 2015 if we are to have any chance of avoiding dangerous climate change," he said.

Details:

§      To listen to Premier Rann on Fran Kelly's Radio National Breakfast Show, go to: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2007/1964271.htm <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2007/1964271.htm> 

 

§      To see the latest authoritative California's greenhouse figures, go to: 

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-600-2005-025/CEC-600-2005-025.PDF <http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-600-2005-025/CEC-600-2005-025.PDF> 

 

§      Here is the greenhouse data released by the SA Government.  It shows we are currently below 1990 levels (2005 - 31 Mt C02, 1990 - 33 MtC02). 

 South Australian greenhouse gas emissions                Mt CO2-e

                              Emissions         Net emissions

                               generated    from import/export

                             from within        of electricity          Total

                            SA (Scope 1)1        (Scope 2)2      (Scope 1 +2)

Baseline Year

(1990)                         32                       0.5                   33

1991                            30                       2.3                   32

1992                            31                       1.3                   32

1993                            30                       1.3                   31

1994                            30                       1.2                   31

1995                            30                       2.4                   32

1996                            29                       3.8                   32

1997                            29                       4.0                   33

1998                            30                       4.1                   34

1999                            30                       3.5                   33

2000                            28                       3.6                   32

2001                            29                       2.5                   31

2002                            32                       1.3                   33

2003                            31                       2.3                   33

2004                            28                       2.8                   31

2005                            28                       2.5                   31

 

        1Based on data from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) 

        2Based on data from the NGGI and the Electricity Supply Industry Planning Council (ESIPC) www.esipc.sa.gov.au and NEMMCO www.nemmco.com.au.

 


For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


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