Climate Change Coalition

Climate Change Coalition Believes

Australia is one of the biggest per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters in the world. We should help restrict the world's temperature increase to less than 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels by leading the way with emission reductions consistent with that global environmental objective. The Climate Change Coalition believes Australia must:

  • Ratify the Kyoto Protocol and support binding emission targets for all nations beyond 2012.
  • The prime minister should immediately establish a risk assessment team, managed like a war cabinet, and include the opposition leader and premiers.
  • Ensure Australia's emissions peak well before 2020.
  • Aim to meet the following binding targets relative to 1990 levels:
    --- 40% by 2020
    --- 70% by 2050 (excluding offsets generated offshore).
  • Take global leadership by proposing initiatives to encourage developing countries to accept targets.
  • Set a mandatory target of 30% electricity generation from renewable sources by 2020.
  • Oppose nuclear power.
  • Establish a nationwide moratorium on new coal fired power stations and new coal export projects until their carbon emissions can be safely sequestered.
  • Implement an internationally linked emissions trading scheme.
  • Auction emission permits, using the revenue to encourage new low emission technologies, efficiency & conservation.
  • Do not compensate existing carbon emitters.
  • Include the agricultural sector in carbon trading at the earliest opportunity.
  • Include aviation and shipping in emissions reduction and trading at the earliest opportunity.
  • Introduce energy efficiency standards for motor vehicles, requiring improvements consistent with the emissions reduction targets and world's best practice.
  • Emphasise energy efficiency and conservation by expanding mandatory energy performance standards to cover all energy-using appliances and equipment in line with world's best practice.
  • Eliminate perverse subsidies which promote emissions.

More information:
<http://climatechangecoalition.com.au/home/australia-must.html>