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Rudd Report Card – is Kevin going to tick the right boxes on climate change?
December 16, 2007
The full page ad, run on 17 December 2007, shows a list of 10 tasks Mr
Rudd must tick if he is to show Australians he is serious about climate
change. He has already ticked the first ‘Ratify Kyoto’ but, says the card, ‘has just three years to prove he is serious about the subject’.
At the Bali climate change negotiations last week, Mr Rudd’s climate popularity saw some major peaks and troughs. He rightly received global accolades for ratifying Kyoto and personally joining the international talks, where he certainly talked the talk.
But he then appeared to fail to walk the walk, sitting firmly on the fence until the very last minute when it came to including the crucial scientifically backed 25-40 % emissions cuts in the next round of negotiations (which in a stunning display of irony was then endorsed by the Federal opposition’s environment spokesman Greg Hunt!)
“By ratifying the Kyoto protocol, Prime Minister Rudd started his first term showing promise on climate change,” said Steve Campbell, Greenpeace head of campaigns. “But there is still a long way to go.
“Mr Rudd has nine more boxes to tick, including: ‘Stop taxpayers' money going to fossil fuel companies’, ‘Rule out any new coal-fired power stations’ ‘Begin phasing out coal-fired power stations, starting with the oldest and dirtiest’ and measures to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy.”
Last week a Newspoll commissioned by Greenpeace revealed that an overwhelming 86% of Australians want to see Mr Rudd take even stronger action on climate change, by putting in place new policies that will ensure Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions begin to decrease within the next three years.
“To see emissions fall by 2010 we need to start phasing out coal-fired power stations and replacing them with renewable energy: our poll shows that 77% of Australians back this move,” Mr Campbell said.
“Australians voted Mr Rudd in on a climate mandate and expect to see action, not caution. We don’t have time for caution. We all know what needs to be done: cut emissions now. Australians will be watching to see how many boxes Mr Rudd can tick and whether his climate policies stay on track.”
At the Bali climate change negotiations last week, Mr Rudd’s climate popularity saw some major peaks and troughs. He rightly received global accolades for ratifying Kyoto and personally joining the international talks, where he certainly talked the talk.
But he then appeared to fail to walk the walk, sitting firmly on the fence until the very last minute when it came to including the crucial scientifically backed 25-40 % emissions cuts in the next round of negotiations (which in a stunning display of irony was then endorsed by the Federal opposition’s environment spokesman Greg Hunt!)
“By ratifying the Kyoto protocol, Prime Minister Rudd started his first term showing promise on climate change,” said Steve Campbell, Greenpeace head of campaigns. “But there is still a long way to go.
“Mr Rudd has nine more boxes to tick, including: ‘Stop taxpayers' money going to fossil fuel companies’, ‘Rule out any new coal-fired power stations’ ‘Begin phasing out coal-fired power stations, starting with the oldest and dirtiest’ and measures to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy.”
Last week a Newspoll commissioned by Greenpeace revealed that an overwhelming 86% of Australians want to see Mr Rudd take even stronger action on climate change, by putting in place new policies that will ensure Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions begin to decrease within the next three years.
“To see emissions fall by 2010 we need to start phasing out coal-fired power stations and replacing them with renewable energy: our poll shows that 77% of Australians back this move,” Mr Campbell said.
“Australians voted Mr Rudd in on a climate mandate and expect to see action, not caution. We don’t have time for caution. We all know what needs to be done: cut emissions now. Australians will be watching to see how many boxes Mr Rudd can tick and whether his climate policies stay on track.”
