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Hard road to Copenhagen

Hard road to Copenhagen Adam MortonMay 29, 2009Page 1 of 2 Single page viewThe world is starting to get its act together on emissions cuts, but time is running out. “……………….Ross Garnaut knows China………………….he sees a country taking much greater strides in limiting greenhouse emissions than many in the West realise.

Speaking recently in Melbourne, the professor listed a string of environmentally friendly steps being taken in Beijing: taxes on energy-guzzling industries such as cement, aluminium and steel and world’s-best investment in low-emissions energy — nuclear, solar, wind and biomass.

To this he could have added adoption of targets to dramatically cut the amount of energy used per $1 of GDP generated and ensure that a 10th of energy comes from renewable sources by next year.

Garnaut believes China is discouraging energy-hungry industries to “an extent that it would be very difficult, politically, in Australia”.

“I think most Australians would be surprised at the emphasis in China on making sure that future growth is not like past growth,” he says………………………..And Australia? The recent announcement that it may accept a 25 per cent reduction target, albeit it only under a strong global deal, has been warmly received internationally. But experts warn that the lack of finalised emissions trading legislation, likely given the opposition in the Senate, would make the target seem hollow to some developing nations. Even if it is passed, analysts here and overseas note it will count for little unless the Federal Government comes up with concrete proposals on financing.

Hard road to Copenhagen

May 30, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized