Australian to cut emission by 15 percent by 2020
15/12/2008 16:54
The Australian government has set an absolute maximum cut to emissions of
15 percent by 2020 - if the world signs an effective climate pact, announced
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today while releasing the government's green house
plan.
If no pact is signed, Australia will go with an unconditional 5 percent
cut in emissions.
By defending the targets as "responsible" course of action,
Rudd said he did not want to make promises that cannot be delivered.
"We are
starting the scheme with appropriate and responsible targets, targets that are
broadly consistent with other developed countries," he told the audience at the
National Press Club in Canberra.
These targets fly in the face of calls from
scientists for countries to slash their emissions by 25 to 40 percent to avert
catastrophic climate change.
The targets deliver necessary reform to tackle
climate change while supporting Australia's economy and securing jobs during the
global recession, he said.
"Treasury modeling demonstrates that we can
deliver on this 5 to 15 percent commitment while maintaining solid economic
growth," he said.
The prime minister also pointed out that Treasury modeling
indicated Australia could achieve a 5 to 15 percent cut in emissions while
maintaining solid economic growth.
The unconditional 5 percent target was
equal to a 27 percent reduction in carbon pollution for each Australian from
2000 to 2020, he said.
Xinhua
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