Greenhouse Scheme Extension Falls Short as Emissions Spiral

Friday, 20 October 2006 21:32

“Today, not years into the future, is when we should be fixing the scheme to ensure it delivers actual greenhouse reductions,” said Jeff Angel, TEC Director.  “We believe the first step towards the Government’s long term promise of 60% reductions is a cap that delivers a 20% reduction on 1990 levels.”

“The changes proposed by the Government are dangerously delaying real action.  This is not an appropriate response to the alarming situation of rapidly increasing greenhouse emissions and a worsening climate.”

The proposed amendments, passed through the NSW Lower House on Wednesday, extend the current scheme until 2021 and leave the per capita cap on emissions at the same level as now.  As a result, population growth will cause total emissions to rise steeply.  The Government has argued that an emissions trading scheme may start in 2012 as the reason for not reviewing the target and making it more ambitious.

“It’s not good enough to use the mirage of a national emissions trading scheme to delay on real action.  By 2012, the earliest date that a national scheme could commence, we will be locked into dangerously high emissions, and reducing them will be even harder.  This is a recipe for global warming and increased business uncertainty.”

“Government figures show emissions from the electricity sector will rise from 2007 with the scheme as it stands. Electricity sector emissions are already 32 per cent higher than in 1990, and consumption is rising at just under 3 per cent per year.  The legislation is a disaster.”

"We urge the government to accept amendments in the Upper House," Mr Angel said.