[Greens-Media] McKinsey backs Greens' emissions targets

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

McKinsey backs Greens' emissions targets

Canberra, Friday 15 February 2008  Australian Greens climate change
spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today warmly welcomed a report
from McKinsey showing that 30% emissions reductions by 2020 can be
achieved at low cost, and called for a similar examination of the even
deeper cuts that current science demands.

Senator Milne said "The McKinsey report should end the defeatist claim
that serious emissions reductions will ruin the economy. That claim,
which was always based on prejudice rather than evidence, now has no leg
to stand on.

"McKinsey make it clear that large emissions reductions can be achieved
for very little cost, including a great array of abatement options that
save money. Perhaps more importantly, they set this cost against the far
larger economic growth, showing how small a sacrifice we need to make.

"The report puts a cost of $290 per household by 2020, over which time
household income will be $20,000 higher. Householders will be able to
make deeper cuts and achieve greater savings with behavioural changes
such as cycling, walking and taking shorter showers, which were not
included in this study.

"With such low cost, surely we can afford even deeper cuts, giving us an
even better chance of avoiding catastrophic climate chance. Indeed, it
would be utterly irresponsible not to reach out for them.

"What we need now is further studies looking at deeper, faster cuts, in
recognition of that fact that climate science, climate impacts and
emissions trajectories are all moving faster than anyone had expected.

"It is particularly important to note the report's analysis that
avoiding deforestation in Australia is a 'large, immediate and
perishable opportunity to reduce emissions'. In other words, unless we
act fast to stop logging old growth and native forests, we will lose
forever the option of saving these huge carbon stores.

"I have every confidence that, given the right incentives, we will find
even more and cheaper options for emissions reductions than these
authors have found. In particular, concentrating solar thermal power has
great potential that is not included here.

"McKinsey should be congratulated for this work that ABARE and the
Treasury should have done years ago."

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

Join the discussion at http://greensblog.org

www.christinemilne.org.au
www.youtube.com/senatormilne