Media Release: Climate Action groups welcome European plans

12th March 2007

Local climate change activists welcome European plans to cap CO2 emissions

Brisbane climate change campaigners have welcomed the agreement reached by European Union leaders on Friday to commit to reducing greenhouse gas levels by 20 per cent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels.

A summit in Brussels concluded with a commitment by the 27-nation bloc to this ambitious target aimed at cutting emission levels. Member states will also have to increase the share of power sourced from renewable energy to at least 20% by 2020.

David White, a spokesperson for Climate Action Brisbane, said that the Federal and State Governments in Australia needed to act urgently to establish similar emission and renewable energy targets.

“If Australia continues to delay taking positive steps to set a target to cut GHG emissions by at least 20% by 2020, we will be left behind in the global ‘clean energy’ stakes, and the climate and our exporters will both ultimately suffer”, he said.

“Europe is showing the way forward with a promise to do even more - to reduce levels by 30% by 2020 if its other trading partners agreed to do likewise.”

The Australian Government’s refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and to increase its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target [MRET] of 2% of total energy generation means that Australia is becoming increasingly isolated from the energy and climate change forums in the developed world, he said.

Climate Action Brisbane calls on governments and the business community to take all necessary steps to convene a national Climate Change Summit to set new strategies and national targets for greenhouse gas emissions and MRETs for 2020.

“We have the sustainable technologies, we have abundant renewable energy sources, and public opinion polls confirm that Australians want their governments to act now. It’s time for governments and business to show some real leadership in the national interest.”

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For further information, CAB can be contacted on 0403 871 082 [David]
or 3846 5793 [Emma]