Qld should learn from USA on climate change action

Legislation on climate change passed through the US House of
Representatives today.  Although the US laws have many flaws they nonetheless highlight how weak the proposed Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is.

The Congress has endorsed a 17% reduction in carbon pollution by 2020 - compared with the Rudd Government's recommended minimum of 5% - and 83% cuts by 2050.

Unfortunately the US scheme, like the Rudd Government's proposal, will give many big polluters free permits.

Scientific experts are calling for 40% cuts and that is what the Greens are calling for.

US legislators predict the creation of millions of green jobs and no
serious impacts on the economy.

Queensland Greens spokesperson Libby Connors said one of the key factors in the passage of the climate change bill was the role of various state legislatures that pioneered emissions trading schemes and other greenhouse reduction measures.

"Unfortunately, the Queensland Government has continually undermined any efforts at achieving a meaningful national greenhouse reduction strategy with its refusal to adopt a coherent transitional program toward a low carbon economy," Dr Connors said.

"We need to see from the Bligh Government a carefully thought out process for phasing out coal-fired power stations and phasing in renewable energy.

"The most important thing they could do right now, as Western Australia has recently done, is to introduce a gross feed-in tariff.

"The Western Australian model pays 63 cents per kilowatt hour for the full amount of energy from producers instead of the meaningless system in Queensland that pays only the difference between what a source produces and what they consume.

"If Queensland proceeded down this path, then we might start seeing more visionary action by the Federal Government."

Contact: Libby Connors 0429 487 110