[Greens-Media] "It's the science stupid!"

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

"It's the science stupid!"

Canberra, Tuesday 25 November 2008

The Rudd Government must put climate science at the heart of its
decision on greenhouse emissions targets, the Australian Greens warned
today.

"The laws of physics and chemistry are not going to simply cease to
exist because they are inconvenient for Australian industry or
governments," said Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate Change
Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne.

"You cannot negotiate with the laws of science. When those laws tell us
that our actions are leading towards disaster, we must act on that or
acknowledge that we are choosing to fail."

The Greens' analysis of current science tells us that Australia needs to
be working towards net zero emissions by 2050, and 40% reductions below
1990 levels by 2020.

"The Rudd Government seems to think that it can design its climate
policy by taking climate science as one input and somehow balancing that
against the desires of big polluters.

"But that makes as little sense as developing a space program taking the
laws of gravity as only one input. The science might be inconvenient,
but sidelining it will only lead to failure.

"A thousand years ago, King Canute demonstrated that none of us can hold
back the tide.

"This holds a double lesson for Prime Minister Rudd today - firstly, he
must respect what the science tells him and put that at the heart of his
climate strategy.

"Secondly, he cannot hold back the tide of green energy that is rolling
across the planet because Australia happens to be currently focussed on
coal."


Contact:  Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

Tim Hollo 
Media and Communications Adviser 
Senator Christine Milne 
Australian Greens Deputy Leader
ph: (02) 6277 3588 
mob: 0437 587 562
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