You Are Here:
In Bali, a road map was created to move forward with climate change negotiations. Australia finally joined the global community and now it’s time for policies that will see emissions fall.
After ratifying the Kyoto Protocol at the meeting’s start, Australia had conference watchers worried. Would they support short-term emission reduction targets of 25-40% for developed countries?
At the eleventh hour, the new Australian government finally showed its support and distanced itself from the spoiling tactics of the US at the meeting. Prime Minister Rudd even made a pointed reference to the US in a speech to the Conference last Wednesday, saying “all developed countries outside the Kyoto Protocol” must “embrace comparable efforts”.
The Bali road map was weakened by spoiling tactics from the US and other countries. Things looked grim up until the final hours. But in a dramatic end to the meeting, harsh words from other delegates, including Papua New Guinea (who advised the US to exercise leadership or get out of the way), forced the US to give in.
The challenge for the Rudd government is to implement policies that will reduce Australia's spiralling greenhouse emissions. According to a Newspoll survey last week:
Prime Minister Rudd clearly has the country’s support on reducing Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels.
While Australia was in Bali building a framework for saving our planet, work started at home to double the world’s biggest coal export port in Newcastle. Worse still, new coal fired power stations are proposed for most Australian states and $10 billion in taxpayers’ money helps subsidise fossil fuel use.
For Mr Rudd to get serious on climate change, he must:
Prime Minister Rudd has said that he wants to play a leadership role – here is his great opportunity.
After ratifying the Kyoto Protocol at the meeting’s start, Australia had conference watchers worried. Would they support short-term emission reduction targets of 25-40% for developed countries?
At the eleventh hour, the new Australian government finally showed its support and distanced itself from the spoiling tactics of the US at the meeting. Prime Minister Rudd even made a pointed reference to the US in a speech to the Conference last Wednesday, saying “all developed countries outside the Kyoto Protocol” must “embrace comparable efforts”.
The US gives in
The Bali road map was weakened by spoiling tactics from the US and other countries. Things looked grim up until the final hours. But in a dramatic end to the meeting, harsh words from other delegates, including Papua New Guinea (who advised the US to exercise leadership or get out of the way), forced the US to give in.
Australia’s next move
The challenge for the Rudd government is to implement policies that will reduce Australia's spiralling greenhouse emissions. According to a Newspoll survey last week:
- 86% of Australians want emissions to start falling in Rudd’s first term
- 77% support a phase out of coal fired power
Prime Minister Rudd clearly has the country’s support on reducing Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels.
How to say no
While Australia was in Bali building a framework for saving our planet, work started at home to double the world’s biggest coal export port in Newcastle. Worse still, new coal fired power stations are proposed for most Australian states and $10 billion in taxpayers’ money helps subsidise fossil fuel use.
For Mr Rudd to get serious on climate change, he must:
- say no to new coal fired power plants
- transfer that $10 billion to clean renewable technology
- start a discussion about which coal plant to close first and how to replace it with energy efficiency measures and renewable energy
Prime Minister Rudd has said that he wants to play a leadership role – here is his great opportunity.
Hit stop on coal
