Public transport derby highlights greenhouse issues as Senate Inquiry continues

Wednesday, 22 March 2000 10:00

"Everybody can do something to reduce greenhouse gas pollution-using public transport instead of frequent private car trips is one way," said Kathy Fook of the Community Information Project on Sustainable Energy. "Road based transport accounts for 61 million tonnes, or 16%, of Australia's total greenhouse pollution. Around 1/3 of the greenhouse gases generated by the average Australian family comes from driving cars."

When Australia signed the Kyoto Protocol it committed itself to limiting its greenhouse emissions to 108% of 1990 levels by the year 2010. Yet without a firm reduction strategy, the Australian Government predicts emissions from the transport sector will rise by 38 per cent by 2010. Emissions from the transport sector are currently the fastest growing of any other sector.

International experts appearing at the Australian Senate Inquiry into global warming agree that commitments made so far will be insufficient to avert serious climatic change. Scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change and the UK Hadley Centre say climate change has already begun to occur and may be more severe than previously thought.

"Scientists warn that destructive weather events like hail and thunder storms, increased rainfall, floods and droughts will increase in the years ahead. It's imperative that governments, business and the community find ways to reduce greenhouse pollution. Today's initiative-the public transport derby-highlights the kinds of things each of us can do," said Kathy Fook.

The public transport derby starts at 8am at Centrepoint Tower, and finishes at 11am at Homebush Bay.