August 14, 2009

Don't let us down, Australia

australia-coal-block3.jpg

Activists block a coal terminal in Australia. © Greenpeace / Hamilton

As expected, Australia's parliament rejected a plan for the world's most ambitious emissions trade regime yesterday. The defeated carbon pollution reduction scheme intended to reduce emissions in the biggest per-capita emitter in the developed world, Reuters reports.

Despite the rejection, the government renewed its pledge to push through the scheme before the December U.N. meeting in Copenhagen, where world nations will try to hammer out a broad global climate pact and where Australia is eager to take a leading role.

"We will bring this bill back before the end of the year because if we don't this nation goes to Copenhagen with no means to deliver our targets," Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said.

The Danish government said it would like Australia's emissions trading scheme passed this year as it will be helpful in the Copenhagen meeting.

"The world needs the developed countries to take a strong lead in combating climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister for climate and energy.

"I am confident that the Australian government is doing everything possible to pass the necessary legislation prior to the UN climate conference in December," Ms Hedegaard said.

Comments

Australian government is just to scared to tackle the problem head on.
It would prefer to keep exporting raw materials to countries with inhumane human rights record where they(unsurprizingly)then make products of very bad quality to be send back here again.
this only add,s to waste and the needless energie spend producing it.
Big bussines runs this planet and if they don,t have their selfish way they just go somewhere they can.
Just look at China it,s full of them.
I am one who suggest not to be reliant on inported goods as this creates a lack of productivety at home.
michelin and ciroen are having
their products made in china and we pay top dollar for it as if it was made in Europe.

we are better of buying locally made as we have at least tighter controls on how much the factories are polluting.

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