[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Greens Seek to Amend Tasmanian Climate Change Bill To Boost Targets_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

GREENS TO MOVE AMENDMENTS TO LABOR'S CLIMATE CHANGE BILL

Increase Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets & Introduce Interim Targets

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today will move to amend the Bartlett government's
Climate Change (State Action) Bill 2008, in order to introduce
legislated 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to at least
40% below 1990 levels and to also increase the 2050 target.

Greens Leader and Shadow Climate Change spokesperson Nick McKim MP said
that Mr Bartlett should acknowledge that climate change requires strong
and urgent action, and that his emissions reduction legislation must
include a 2020 target, to ensure that this legislation is not reduced to
being a wasted opportunity.

"Sustainability issues will be the major challenge of the 21st century,
and Tasmania is in an unique position to become a global leader, but
that will require meaningful action instead of rhetoric," Mr McKim said.

"Labor's Climate Change Bill which is being debated today can either set
Tasmania on the path to being a global climate change champion, or it
could be just another wasted opportunity."

"I will move several key amendments during this crucial debate, one
which will introduce an interim target that will require Tasmania, by 31
December 2020, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to at least 40%
below 1990 levels."

"The other significant amendment that the Greens will move is to
increase the proposed 2050 target of 60% cut in emissions to 90%, which
we believe is the only way to make meaningful inroads into the State's
carbon footprint."

"Any informed response to climate change must include a legislated 2020
emissions reduction target and the setting of a meaningful 2050 target,
and we would hope that the scientific data driven Premier will recognise
this imperative and vote in support of the Greens' amendments." 

"Mr Bartlett's proposal to legislate to create a 2050 target but no 2020
target is a failure to grasp the urgency with which we need to lower our
emissions."

"We need to act with urgency to lower our emissions, and that will
require setting a 2020 target which will drive an immediate and
meaningful reductions," Mr McKim said.



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