Howard must set targets for energy emission reductions
18 Jul 2006
Prime Minister John Howard's calls for greater national water reform and more water recycling are welcome but ignore the most obvious cause of water problems in this country - climate change.
WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne says the Australian Government must apply the same approach to energy emission reduction targets as it does with sustainable water targets for the environment and development.
Mr Bourne says the Prime Minister's energy pathway was in stark contrast to that taken by the States, which are already setting greenhouse gas reduction targets in the face of Federal inaction.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks yesterday launched his State's $200 million Environmental Sustainability Action Statement 'Our Environment, Our Future'.
The statement says Victoria will save at least 3.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year - the environmental equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the State's roads.
The South Australian government in June announced it would legislate that 20 per cent of the State's power would come from renewable sources within eight years.
"The States are showing leadership on climate change, the rest of the world is trying to tackle the issue, and it's time that Mr Howard made a commitment to addressing this problem as well."
Mr Howard yesterday made calls for better water management, setting water sustainability targets and acknowledging Australia's chronic water problems. He also called for progress on water pricing and trading.
But at the same time he announced Australia would continue to exploit its vast supplies of coal and uranium to become an energy superpower in a world of fossil fuel insecurity, and failed to address the urgent need for emission reductions, pricing of carbon or emission trading.
The world's burning of fossil fuels is driving a warming of the climate, changing rainfall patterns and causing prolonged drought in southern Australia.
"Failing to do anything to stop climate change will only deepen Australia's water problems by leading us down a path towards permanent drought," Mr Bourne says.
Find out more
Charlie Stevens, Press Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1274
Mobile: 0424 649 689
Email: cstevens@wwf.org.au
