Greenhouse trading - not dead

Monday, 12 January 2004 10:00

With the UK's Chief Scientist stating that climate change is more serious than terrorism, you'd think Prime Minister Howard would get the message. It's myopic policy making that does a great disservice to the community. Australia will not be immune from the severe impacts of climate change. And with our major trading partners developing such schemes, it is essential our economy can fit in with them and retain a healthy economic relationship, the groups said.

"The Commonwealth is just one voice and there is a big groundswell among key states and business groups to have an emissions trading scheme. NSW Premier Bob Carr has already announced an approach to other states and we are working on a practical model. This will be discussed with business, state governments and peak environment groups over the next few months. A trading scheme is not dead," said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

Anna Reynolds,WWF Australia climate change campaign manager said: "This bad news comes within a week of a new scientific study predicting globally a million land animal and plants- including some of our iconic Australian species - could die out due to global warming. The Commonwealth government seems to be totally unaware of the urgency and the economically-viable options for Australia to minimise impacts from climate change by adopting emissions trading and other critical policies to curb carbon emissions".

Darren Gladman of Environment Victoria said: "With brown coal being the worst greenhouse emitter in the energy sector, Victoria needs the economic stimulus that a trading scheme will bring. It is a market-based approach that creates viable economic ways to transition from polluting to clean energy. A multi-based state scheme with the involvement of key industrial and energy states would benefit each state and also Australia, in the international marketplace