"There's likely to be a sigh of relief from government
negotiators around the world who're heading to Bali next week for
discussions on how to strengthen the Kyoto climate treaty in its
second phase, post-2012," said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Jim
Footner.
"The atmosphere at next week's talks will be markedly different
due to this election result. The US Administration will no longer
be able to plot with the Australians to destroy progress."
The Australian Prime Minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, has promised to
ratify the Kyoto Protocol - in marked contrast to the outgoing
premier, John Howard, who sided with the US for 10 years in
fighting the international process.
Australia's ratification of Kyoto will leave the US as the only
industrialised country which has not ratified the international
agreement. Greenpeace was instrumental in getting the Australian
Labour Party to adopt its pro-Kyoto stance.
"UN climate scientists are telling us that emissions of
greenhouse
gases must peak in just seven years - 2015 - and then be
reduced. We
expect that when Kevin Rudd goes to the Bali negotiations, he'll
take
a position of leadership rather than being the destructive force
that
Australia has been over the past decade," said Mr Footner.
Greenpeace called on both New Zealand and Australia to join with
the
European Union by committing to cuts in carbon dioxide emissions
of at
least 30 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050 - the levels
of
reductions required from industrialised countries in order to
keep
global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius. "Developed
countries like Australia and New Zealand have a key role to play
in
ensuring progress."
Other contacts: Kathy Cumming - 021 495 216
Exp. contact date: 2007-12-30 00:00:00