Fed: Green groups back Aust stance on 2020 target

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2007
Fed: Green groups back Aust stance on 2020 target

CANBERRA, Dec 6 AAP - Environmental groups have applauded the Australian delegation's
commitment in Bali to cut greenhouse pollution by at least a quarter by 2020.

A delegate told a working group at the UN talks yesterday that Australia fully supported
an agreement among developed nations to reduce emissions in a range of 25-40 per cent
from 1990 levels within 13 years.

The move comes despite Prime Minister Kevin Rudd planning not to commit to a 2020 target
until a climate-change report is completed next year by economist Ross Garnaut.

"It's an extraordinary act of climate leadership that Kevin Rudd's taking," Climate
Institute chief executive John Connor said.

"It's a serious commitment and that's actually serious leadership which is responding
to what's been very welcome leadership from China and Brazil and other developing countries
who are engaging in the negotiations in a very constructive way."

Mr Connor said the position taken in Bali did not lock Australia into a target before
the Garnaut process was complete.

"We're trying to get into the mandate which then forms the basis of the discussions
over the next two years.

"It's a reference point as we then shake down what the various national commitments are."

He said the government's stance would provide clear guidance to industries on the kind
of emissions targets to be set.

Greenpeace also welcomed the development but called on Mr Rudd to explicitly commit
to a 2020 target in the top end of the 25-40 per cent band.

"During his first term Mr Rudd must turn Australia's emissions around by introducing
laws to see them rapidly decline," Greenpeace energy campaigner Ben Pearson said.

"This means Australia must start to phase out its reliance on coal-fired power stations,
stop funding fossil-fuel companies and halt expansions to its export-coal industry."

AAP pw/rl/lh/bwl

KEYWORD: CLIMATE BALI AUST GROUPS

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