Rudd to press on with ETS

22 Dec 2009, 7:18 pm   -   Source: AFP
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Australia will do 'no more and no less' than other nations to fight climate change, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, as he defended the outcome of global talks in Copenhagen.

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Australia will do 'no more and no less' than other nations to fight climate change, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, as he defended the outcome of global talks in Copenhagen.

Rudd's government wants to introduce a carbon emissions trading scheme which will reduce the pollution responsible for global warming by between five and 25 percent of 2000 levels by 2020.
  
But following the global summit on climate change in the Danish capital, it will consider the efforts of other countries before setting the level within this range at which carbon emissions will be capped.

Rudd rules out 25 per cent cut 

Asked whether Australia would consider a target above 25 percent, Rudd replied: "Absolutely not."
  
"And the reason is, as I have said consistently, that Australia will do no more and no less than the rest of the world," he told reporters.
  
The non-binding Copenhagen Accord committed nations to limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), but it failed to set targets for greenhouse gas emissions cuts.
  
Rudd said Australia's range of five to 25 percent carbon cuts was consistent with this aim, as he defended the outcome of the summit.
  
"The negotiations among many countries proceeded very effectively. And with various other countries, did not proceed effectively," he said.
  
"There were many countries in the Copenhagen negotiations who wanted to land a deal on climate change which was comprehensive. We had some resistance from various developing countries against that.
  
"The important thing, however, is that the alternatives at the end of the day were this -- the complete collapse of negotiations, and no deal whatsoever, or the deal that we were able to deliver."
  
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said the government had made its target range of proposed cuts clear.
  
"That is dependent on what the rest of the world is prepared to do and as we work over the coming weeks with other nations who are supporting the Copenhagen Accord, we will be considering very carefully what other nations put forward," she said.
  
Wong said the Copenhagen conference was a step forward because for the first time it involved developed and developing nations acting together on climate change.
  
But according to a transcript of Wong's comments made after the summit, the minister agreed that more could have been gleaned from the talks.
  
"Of course there's a lot to do, of course we would have wanted more," the senator told a media conference after the talks concluded.
  
"But this is a significant step and what is important now is pressing on, implementing this agreement, working with those countries who support action to get a legally binding outcome at the next conference."
 

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Your Comments

NO CARBON TRADING

NuffsEnuff - from Bottom Of Food Chain, 2 years ago

Apparently fraud and stealing is only illegal for the likes of the public whereas GOVT and big biz may do anything with impunity now. WTF!! I am unable to feed and clothe myself at present while these fools fly around the world at EVERY opportunity ... then they tell ME to tighten my belt? Careful I dont do that once I put it round YOUR bloody neck kev & co. ... I do NOT need your guidance on EVERY aspect of my life and certainly don`t need another wall street style slush fund setup thankyou.

EYES WIDE SHUT! II

JJSTEALL - from Adelaide, 2 years ago

Tell that to the Europeans, Russians and Americans who are experiencing their coldest winter conditions in history. They have all woken up! How about you Rudd? Stop denying and face up to the fact. The one thing constant about climate is change!

depressed

schtaeve - from melbourne, 2 years ago

One can't blame Kevin Rudd. At least he and Senator Wong are trying something. At every level fools stand in the way of saving our planet. The blame must rest on their souls. Abbott, Abetz, Minchin, Joyce, and supporters are dangerous fools who nitpick info to suit political ends. We were at the mercy of their draconian extremism when in government and they still pollute minds with the same fervour. The international scene has the same types eg India. Put simply we're all going to die.

Sick

Zoe - from Melbourne, 2 years ago

What a pathetic PM we have who is not prepared to do any more than any other country. That's not leading, that's being a sheep. If noone else does anything thing then i guess we wont either. Goodbye world!

Yes, he is pressing ahead with his agenda:

GORDON - from SYDNEY, 2 years ago

an agreement was struck in Copenhagen for the establishment of the one world government that he seems desperately to want; plans to control the internet are steaming ahead; and instead of withdrawing our troops from Afganistan -he will most likely add to them. We need to bring our troops home now, this is not our war. We do not want the internet censored. Most importantly, we do not want to lose any part of our sovereignty by signing the next Treaty. We choose to remain Aussies!!!

Eyes wide shut!

JJSTEALL - from Adelaide , 2 years ago

I guess my pending position as UN secretary general is closed? I'm appalled!

Yeah right!

joe - from melbourne, 2 years ago

Rudd is just saving a seat for world government under the control of the NWO. Good luck!

I was lost...

Ron - from Skye, 2 years ago

Kev : did I vote for you ? ........I feel sick.....very...very sick.....

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