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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
Australia is the world's worst per-capita emitter of greenhouse gases. If the planet's temperature is to be stabilised, dramatic cuts need to be achieved. John Kaye and the Greens are campaigning hard for NSW to lead the way.
While the NSW Government introduced a Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme a few years ago, it contains massive loopholes that can lead to perverse outcomes - like companies being paid more despite increasing their emissions!
The Greens support economic measures to reduce NSW's greenhouse gas emissions, such as a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade scheme. The key issue is that any such scheme has to work properly, by creating an adequate price signal that shifts the economy away from energy-intensive industries into a post-carbon future.
The Greens are calling for mandatory emission reduction targets of:
- 20% reduction on 1990 levels by 2012
- 50% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020
- 80% reduction on 1990 levels by 2050
At present, the NSW Government has an 'aspirational' target reduction of 60% by 2050, which scientists indicate is unlikely to be enough to stabilise global temperature rises at 2 degrees. They don't have any shorter-term (2020) target at all - this is the key issue because this target would drive current policymaking.
For more information:
- Watch John Kaye's YouTube video, "Phasing out Coal"
- View John's slideshow "Averting a Climate Catastrophe"
Media:
- For all John's media releases about greenhouse gas emissions, click here
Take Action!
- Write to Premier Iemma, asking him to take climate change seriously, and commit to a significant emissions reduction target for 2020
Recent Campaign Activity
GGAS Exposed as Fundamentally Flawed
Commenting on a story on page 5 of today’s Sydney Morning Herald (7 August 2007) Dr Kaye said: “NSW Energy Minister Ian Macdonald’s boast that the scheme reduced emissions by 20 million tonnes last year is nonsense.
“If the Iemma government were serious about saving the climate they would stop GGAS rewarding generators who increase their emissions or burn highly polluting coal.
