[Greens-Media] Rudd Government's actions at odds with statement on climate science

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Rudd Government's actions at odds with statement on climate science 

Wednesday 12 August 2009

The Rudd Government's articulation of the science of climate change
today shows up their utter failure to act on what that science requires,
the Australian Greens said.

Greg Combet's Ministerial Statement on the scientific imperative to act
on climate change was largely correct, if out of date, up until the
conclusion that the Rudd Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
effectively addresses that scientific imperative.

"Mr Rudd's Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme locks in failure on the
clear climate warning that Greg Combet delivered to the Parliament
today," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"The Rudd Government's actions are completely out of step with their
understanding of climate science, even though their science is behind
the most recent warnings.

"The 450 ppm limit on global atmospheric greenhouse gases is way behind
the current science, with clear evidence that we must rapidly bring
carbon concentrations down to 350 ppm if we are to preserve a safe
climate.

"What is more, the Rudd Government's targets give us no hope that the
world will even stay under the 450 ppm limit, putting us on track to 550
ppm and climate catastrophe.

"If Australia gets an easy ride, what country does the Government expect
to shoulder more of the load in our stead?

"Mr Rudd, Mr Combet and Senator Wong seem to think that, if they repeat
warnings about climate impacts enough, people will believe that they are
doing something about it. 

"In fact, their proposed CPRS would lock in failure, making those
impacts far worse.

"The Greens will not vote to lock in failure and we will keep working to
promote our policies for ambitious action to protect the climate."



Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne | Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate
Change Spokesperson
Suite SG-112 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3588 | M: 0437
587 562
http://www.christinemilne.org.au/| www.GreensMPs.org.au
<http://www.greensmps.org.au/> 



	
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