ID :
18060
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 17:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/18060
The shortlink copeid
Garnaut report to unveil climate targets
(AAP) Economist Ross Garnaut will kick off intense debate about short-term greenhouse targets when he releases his latest climate change report on Friday.
Professor Garnaut's report will also provide the first glimpse of Treasury modelling
on the economic impact of emissions reductions.
Environmentalists are urging Prof Garnaut to back deep emissions cuts by 2020 to be
part of a global effort to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Entitled Targets and Trajectories, the paper is the government adviser's last before
releasing the final version of his landmark report later this month.
It will also examine the worst-case scenarios of unchecked global warming.
Prof Garnaut says his recommended targets for the nation will come within the
context of an international response.
The federal government has a 60 per cent greenhouse target for 2050 and may set a
2020 target later this year.
The Australian Greens are calling for a 40 per cent emissions cut by 2020 from 1990
levels, with the aim of becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.
The minor party says the global climate situation has worsened since last year's
Bali conference discussed a range of 25-40 per cent for developed nations.
"We are already in dangerous climate change. We are now seeking to avoid
catastrophic climate change," Greens Senator Christine Milne told reporters in
Canberra.
"Now is not the time for weak targets or political expedience.
"What we have to see from Prof Garnaut tomorrow is something that reflects this
urgency in the crisis."
The forestry industry and conservationists have welcomed Prof Garnaut's comments in
favour of planting and protecting forests to promote carbon biosequestration
(nature's way of balancing the Earth's greenhouse gases to ensure that the
environment is able to sustain life).
The Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) said the economist had
effectively backed the union's policy.
"The bottom line is that Prof Garnaut understands that sustainable forest management
involves storing carbon as you go," CFMEU forestry secretary Michael O'Connor said.
Environment Tasmania interpreted the Garnaut stance as a call to protect native
forests and woodlands.
"It has long been well recognised that protecting forests is one of the cheapest,
quickest and most effective ways to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions,"
spokesman Simon Branigan said.
Meanwhile, environment group WWF Australia has lumped one of the nation's biggest
miners in a group of power generators as carbon "dinosaurs".
Rio Tinto, which has majority ownership of a Gladstone generator, and aluminium
giant Alcoa, are among the group that failed a WWF scorecard on carbon reduction
performance.
The organisation found about half the 19 generators performed very badly, scoring
less than two out of five stars.
Alcoa, Intergen and Rio Tinto were the worst performers.
"It's remarkable how these dinosaur companies can complain about their future and
ask for handouts but do zero to reduce their emissions," WWF spokesman Paul Toni
said.
Professor Garnaut's report will also provide the first glimpse of Treasury modelling
on the economic impact of emissions reductions.
Environmentalists are urging Prof Garnaut to back deep emissions cuts by 2020 to be
part of a global effort to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Entitled Targets and Trajectories, the paper is the government adviser's last before
releasing the final version of his landmark report later this month.
It will also examine the worst-case scenarios of unchecked global warming.
Prof Garnaut says his recommended targets for the nation will come within the
context of an international response.
The federal government has a 60 per cent greenhouse target for 2050 and may set a
2020 target later this year.
The Australian Greens are calling for a 40 per cent emissions cut by 2020 from 1990
levels, with the aim of becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.
The minor party says the global climate situation has worsened since last year's
Bali conference discussed a range of 25-40 per cent for developed nations.
"We are already in dangerous climate change. We are now seeking to avoid
catastrophic climate change," Greens Senator Christine Milne told reporters in
Canberra.
"Now is not the time for weak targets or political expedience.
"What we have to see from Prof Garnaut tomorrow is something that reflects this
urgency in the crisis."
The forestry industry and conservationists have welcomed Prof Garnaut's comments in
favour of planting and protecting forests to promote carbon biosequestration
(nature's way of balancing the Earth's greenhouse gases to ensure that the
environment is able to sustain life).
The Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) said the economist had
effectively backed the union's policy.
"The bottom line is that Prof Garnaut understands that sustainable forest management
involves storing carbon as you go," CFMEU forestry secretary Michael O'Connor said.
Environment Tasmania interpreted the Garnaut stance as a call to protect native
forests and woodlands.
"It has long been well recognised that protecting forests is one of the cheapest,
quickest and most effective ways to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions,"
spokesman Simon Branigan said.
Meanwhile, environment group WWF Australia has lumped one of the nation's biggest
miners in a group of power generators as carbon "dinosaurs".
Rio Tinto, which has majority ownership of a Gladstone generator, and aluminium
giant Alcoa, are among the group that failed a WWF scorecard on carbon reduction
performance.
The organisation found about half the 19 generators performed very badly, scoring
less than two out of five stars.
Alcoa, Intergen and Rio Tinto were the worst performers.
"It's remarkable how these dinosaur companies can complain about their future and
ask for handouts but do zero to reduce their emissions," WWF spokesman Paul Toni
said.
