Australian States Leave Federal Gov. Behind On GHG Trading

[hatrack]

MELBOURNE, Australia, April 4, 2005 (ENS) - "The states and territories of Australia have reached a joint agreement on greenhouse gas emissions trading to fight climate change. The federal government, under Prime Minister John Howard, has declined to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, so the states and territories have initiated their own emissions reduction scheme.

"The federal government continues to neglect its responsibility to take meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment for future generations," said Victorian Premier Steve Bracks on Thursday, as he announced the emissions trading agreement in principle. "The Victorian Government announced last year a national trading scheme was the best way to face this challenge and this communiqué represents further progress in developing such a model," Bracks said.

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Bracks said the Howard Government's "head in the sand" approach leaves Australian and Victorian businesses at risk of falling behind as the rest of the world implements emissions trading schemes. Queensland supports ongoing investigations into the development of a national emissions trading scheme, Premier Peter Beattie said Thursday.

"While the Commonwealth has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, Australia will meet its 2008-2012 emissions reduction targets because of my government's ban on tree clearing, Beattie said.

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http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2005/2005-04-04-04.asp

[WearyOne]

1. Bush won't sign Kyoto so little Johnny Howard must follow his master