You Are Here:
In response to Alexander Downer’s address to Bush’s ‘Big Emitters’’ meeting on climate change and energy security in Washington, Stephen Campbell, Greenpeace Australia head of campaigns said today:
“It is embarrassing for Australians to see Mr Downer join Mr Bush in this charade, which is a thinly disguised attempt to take the world in the wrong direction on climate change.
“As we saw with APEC, the Australian Government is doing all it can to look as though it is taking climate change seriously but their actions speak much louder than words.
“This week alone has seen climate impacts predictions for fiercer bushfires and costly compensation to farmers struggling with persistent drought.
“If Mr Downer was genuinely concerned about climate impacts on Australians and our true ‘unique economic strengths’, which is our heritage such as the Great Barrier Reef, not our coal exports, he would be ratifying Kyoto and setting binding, not aspirational, targets to reduce emissions.”
“It is embarrassing for Australians to see Mr Downer join Mr Bush in this charade, which is a thinly disguised attempt to take the world in the wrong direction on climate change.
“As we saw with APEC, the Australian Government is doing all it can to look as though it is taking climate change seriously but their actions speak much louder than words.
“This week alone has seen climate impacts predictions for fiercer bushfires and costly compensation to farmers struggling with persistent drought.
“If Mr Downer was genuinely concerned about climate impacts on Australians and our true ‘unique economic strengths’, which is our heritage such as the Great Barrier Reef, not our coal exports, he would be ratifying Kyoto and setting binding, not aspirational, targets to reduce emissions.”
For further information or comment
Louise Clifton 0438 204041
