Australia to cut polluttion 5% to 15%

Times of India , Monday, December 15, 2008
Correspondent : AP
CANBERRA, Australia: Australia has announced a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as little as 5% by the year 2020, far less than the 25% cut sought be environmentalists.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's government remains committed to its election promise of slashing Australia's carbon emissions that are blamed for global warming by 60% from 2000 levels by 2050.

But climate change policy documents released Monday set an interim reduction range of only 5% to 15% by 2020. Environmental groups have been lobbying for months for a 2020 reduction target to be set at a minimum of 25%.

Australia, the world's driest inhabited continent, is expected to be the developed country hardest hit by the effects of global warming. Government research released last year predicted that parts of the country could be 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter and 80% drier by 2070 if global greenhouse gas emissions are not radically reduced.

The softest target of 5% would apply if the United Nations fails to reach a binding agreement at Copenhagen next year committing developing and developed countries to making deep cuts in global emissions.

"Australia's commitment of a 5-to-15% reduction is a serious and credible commitment to the global action required and is realistically attainable in the current circumstance," the document said.

The target is part of an international quest to stabilize greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million. The government argues its target places a fair burden on Australia considering its projected population growth by 2020.

On a per capita basis, the Australian target was comparable to the European Union's commitment last week to reduce their greenhouse emissions by at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, the government said.

Because of Europe's relatively stagnant population, each European would have to reduce emissions by 24 to 34% to achieve the target. Because of Australia's fast growing population due largely to immigration, each Australian would have to reduce emissions by 27 to 34%, the document said.

Australia plans to introduce a carbon market on July 1, 2010, where polluters will have to bid against each other for government permits to emit carbon.

The Treasury Department expects the permits to sell for AU$25 per metric ton of carbon pollution, although the price will be set by market forces. The government will cap the permit price at AU$40.

All the proceeds from the permit sales will be spent on helping low-income Australians and carbon-intensive industries adapt to the higher costs of energy.

 
SOURCE : Monday, 15 December 2008
 


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