Greenhouse benchmarks take root

Tuesday, 22 January 2002 10:00

"It is a move of national and even international importance. An industry that has repeatedly failed to work cooperatively with the voluntary system, has now had to be regulated. The most recent audit of the industry shows that almost all the electricity retailers performed worse than the previous year. They were addicted to fossil fuel power and could not get off it," said Jeff Angel Director of Total Environment Centre.

"The decision is good for the environment, good for the economy and jobs and for the consumer. The green energy sector is one the fastest growing industries and this new rule will boost its financial and employment contribution, including to regional areas where solar and wind generation is best placed. Consumers will now have effective environmental choices for their power supply."

"We urge the Coalition to support this new move. After all it was their parliamentary support in 1995 that established the benchmark system in the first place. I would hope that all stakeholders in the debate can agree that the voluntary system has been given a chance and failed. We can't afford to ignore the threats from human induced climate change."

"Environment groups will be pressing for upgraded benchmarks for coming years and a focus on power supply strategies that give permanent reductions in greenhouse gases, rather than dubious tree planting schemes."