[Greens-Media] Climate change responsibility means science-based emissions targets

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Climate change responsibility means science-based emissions targets

Melbourne, Wednesday 6 February 2008  Australian Greens climate change
spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, welcomed Minister Penny Wong's
statement of climate change responsibility in a speech to the Ai Group
today, noting that this must mean scientifically and environmentally
responsible targets, with an economically responsible pathway to
achieving them.

Senator Milne said "Penny Wong's confirmation that the Treasury is
finally modelling the economic impacts of emissions reduction
trajectories is welcome, but I look forward to hearing that CSIRO will
also be modelling the climate risks associated with each of the
emissions reduction trajectories.

"The fact that Wong and her government are not questioning the validity
of their 2050 emissions target, even in the light of the rapid
development of climate science and early arrival of major climate
impacts, is troubling. The Government appears to see climate change in
purely economic or political terms, largely sidelining the science that
lies at its heart.

"Certainly there are a host of political and economic issues that are
central to the climate policy debate, but there is one reason and one
reason alone for reducing carbon emissions - and that is to do our best
to reduce the risks of climate change as far as possible. That being the
case, there is only one basis for setting targets - a science-based
judgement of how much climate change we are willing to risk. Once that
science-based target is set, we must then sensibly and coherently work
out how to achieve it at least cost and as equitably as possible.

"The latest science makes it clear that even 2C of global average
warming carries an unacceptably high risk of tipping our planet into
runaway climate change, jeopardising the survival of the ecosystems on
which our economy relies. In order to avoid that outcome, targets far
stronger and faster than those the Government are currently considering
will be necessary.

"Unless our emissions reduction targets are consistent with the best
available advice on reducing climate risks, the Treasury's modelling of
emissions reduction trajectories will be managing short-term economic
risks while the greatest risk of all goes unaddressed.

"I look forward to Penny Wong's announcement of a rigorous scientific
evaluation of the climate impact of Australia's emissions trajectories."

Contact: Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

Tim Hollo
Media and Communications Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone: + 61 (0) 2 6277 3063
Mobile: + 61 (0) 437 587 562
Email: tim.hollo at aph.gov.au
Skype: timhollo

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