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The "Draft outline of APEC leaders' declaration on climate change, energy security and clean development", leaked to Greenpeace this week, contains no legally binding targets nor timetables nor any other clear pathway to the deep emissions cuts needed to tackle climate change.
"If the federal Government is really serious about dealing with climate change John Howard would be ratifying Kyoto and setting targets, not engaging in a talkfest," said Ben Pearson, Greenpeace energy campaigner.
The "aspirational goals" on energy efficiency, support of so-called "clean" coal and nuclear power are vague and appear to be designed more to make John Howard and George W Bush look good to their domestic audiences than actually tackling climate change, Pearson said.
"This is a Made in the USA declaration, covered with Australian coal dust."
Greenpeace noted that if APEC members Japan, Canada and New Zealand signed up to a declaration like this, they would be undermining their own commitments to cut emissions under Kyoto.
On the issue of deforestation and climate change, Greenpeace called on the Government to enact legislation to stop the $400 million worth of illegally logged timber imported into the country each year, something the Government has consistently refused to do.
"That would do a lot more than all the initiatives the Government is trying to throw together for APEC," said Pearson.
DOWNLOAD DECLARATION
"If the federal Government is really serious about dealing with climate change John Howard would be ratifying Kyoto and setting targets, not engaging in a talkfest," said Ben Pearson, Greenpeace energy campaigner.
The "aspirational goals" on energy efficiency, support of so-called "clean" coal and nuclear power are vague and appear to be designed more to make John Howard and George W Bush look good to their domestic audiences than actually tackling climate change, Pearson said.
"This is a Made in the USA declaration, covered with Australian coal dust."
Greenpeace noted that if APEC members Japan, Canada and New Zealand signed up to a declaration like this, they would be undermining their own commitments to cut emissions under Kyoto.
On the issue of deforestation and climate change, Greenpeace called on the Government to enact legislation to stop the $400 million worth of illegally logged timber imported into the country each year, something the Government has consistently refused to do.
"That would do a lot more than all the initiatives the Government is trying to throw together for APEC," said Pearson.
DOWNLOAD DECLARATION
For further information or comment
Louise Clifton 0438 204 041 or Ben Pearson 0407 008 917
