Australian Foreign Minister Outlines Dire Climate Future, Embraces Non-binding "Aspirational" Goals

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In his opening remarks to a meeting of the world's 25 largest greenhouse gas emitters convened by the US President, George Bush, in Washington on Thursday and Friday (US time), the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, spoke of the particular threats global warming posed for Australia. These included more water scarcity in an already dry continent, the effects on agriculture and damage to unique ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef.

"Australia is committed to managing its emissions on a long-term basis," Mr Downer said, pointing to a plan to introduce a carbon trading scheme by 2011 and new targets for 15 per cent renewable energy by 2020.

"The APEC leaders agreed to work to achieve a common understanding on a long-term aspirational global emissions reduction goal.

"The leaders also agreed on the need for all nations, no matter what their stage of development, to contribute according to their own capacities and their own circumstances to reducing greenhouse gases," he said.

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/downer-adopts-us-line-on-carbon-caps/2007/09/27/1190486482549.html