Garnaut on Emissions Trading Makes Sense

Friday, 21 March 2008 02:44

“We’ve seen a big push by the coal power lobby for free permits and support from state officials in the last few weeks – but Garnaut makes sense of the white noise.  Free permits will not mean lower electricity prices and auctioning them creates a big pool of funds to help low income people and restructure our economy into a green economy,” said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of Total Environment Centre.

“It’s pleasing that Prof Garnaut’s report is broadly in line with the key tests for an emissions trading scheme, just released by major environment groups.  There’s not much point going to all the trouble of establishing an emissions trading scheme and then negating its environmental results by doing deals with the polluters to carry on business as usual.”

“There’s still a long road to travel on an ETS and no doubt lots of politics.  We’re determined to stay the course and ensure the most important environmental reform this country has ever seen, won’t be sabotaged by fossil fuel polluters wanting to prevent the rapid emergence of commercially viable zero and low emission energy and significant reductions in the carbon intensity of the economy,” Mr Angel said.