Garnaut Targets and Trajectories Supplementary Draft Report released
September 05, 2008
Garnaut's targets have received widespread criticism from environment groups.
Professor Ross Garnaut has today launched the Targets and Trajectories Supplementary Draft Report. This report details the Garnaut Review's framework for determining national emissions reduction targets and trajectories domestically but within an international context.
The report has found that Australia's climate damage bill will be massive unless we take action now and argues that it is in Australia's national interest to achieve a strong global agreement on climate change.
However the report has received widespread criticism from environment groups with fears that the emission reduction targets Garnaut is recommending would lock us into a future of catastrophic runaway climate change.
The report details that, if other countries commit to targets, 'Australia's target should be to reduce emissions net of international trading by 10 per cent from 2000 levels by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050'. However, in the absence of comprehensive international agreement, Garnaut recommends that Australia's unconditional target should be a mere 5 per cent reduction by 2020 on 2000 levels.
These targets are substantially lower than those recommended by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC recommends that developed countries must reduce by 25-40% by 2020 (to keep warming between 2 and 2.4 degrees C). The Climate Action Network Australia and is proposing at least a 40% reduction by 2020 based on 1990 levels.
"The low targets recommended by Garnaut reinforce that the community must continue to lead on the response to climate change." Moreland Energy Foundation CEO Paul Murfitt said.
"Political targets will be weakened by compromise and trade-offs, but the community is increasingly finding this frustrating and unacceptable. "
The Moreland Energy Foundation will continue to work with our local community to demonstrate that action on climate change is not only achievable but it brings benefits to our local economy, the comfort of our buildings and to our bottom line.
To download the report visit www.garnautreview.org.au.
More information
Environment Victoria comments on Garnaut Review Targets and Trajectories Report www.envict.org.au/
Friends of the Earth Australia: Garnaut recipe for catastrophe www.foe.org.au
Australian Conservation Foundation: Government must aim higher than Garnaut's targets www.acfonline.org.au
Read CANA's position paper: www.cana.net.au/
