[Greens-Media] Sydney Declaration: Do nothing and damn the consequences

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Sydney Declaration: Do nothing and damn the consequences
9th Sep 07

Australian Greens Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today condemned last night's APEC Sydney Declaration as an agreement that recognises the challenge of climate change but does nothing to face up to that challenge.

Senator Milne said "If there is one thing more unforgivably irresponsible that refusing to acknowledge impending danger, it is recognising that danger, pretending to face up to it, but doing nothing to stop it. In the cold light of day, that is what Mr Howard, Mr Bush and all the other so-called leaders have done with the APEC Sydney Declaration.

"The whole agreement is geared towards marginal changes at a glacial pace. With glacial melt already speeding up, this is the time for swift and decisive action.

"The Sydney Declaration leaves the 2C challenge behind. Scientists tell us we need global emissions to peak in the next 8 years if we are to keep warming to less that 2C, above which we risk runaway climate change. But APEC has agreed to keep emissions rising for at least 25 years, deliberately risking catastrophe.

"Energy intensity targets, at the heart of the Declaration, are
specifically designed to obscure reality. They allow politicians to talk in apparently high numbers - 25% by 2030 - but will actually see emissions continue to grow only slightly slower than they otherwise would, when they need to be coming down rapidly.

"What's more, these energy intensity targets are pitifully unambitious. China has already set itself far more stringent intensity targets - 20% by 2010. Rich nations can easily achieve absolute emissions reductions with simple, cheap energy efficiency measures.

"But, in the Sydney Declaration, coal remains king, and the ongoing use of fossil fuels is prioritised over energy efficiency and renewable energy every time.

"The afforestation targets in the Declaration are both weak and
hypocritical. How can the Australian Government tell our neighbours in Indonesia and PNG to stop logging when Tasmania's forests are still being felled at a tremendous rate and the Prime Minister's favoured Pulp Mill will emit 10 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

"The one bright spot in the declaration is the commitment to progress with the UN climate change framework, snubbing Mr Howard and President Bush.

"Australian voters looking approvingly at Mr Rudd's call for binding targets in should be asking him how he plans to meet sich targets when he supports expanding the coal industry and won't even let his potential Environment Minister assess the Gunns Pulp Mill on the basis of its greenhouse emissions."