Good actions, hopeless targets
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has welcomed the ACT Government's commitment to its new Climate Change Strategy, released today, but described both the interim and long term emission reduction targets as profoundly inadequate.
"I applaud the ACT Government's willingness to change its position. It discarded the previous ACT Greenhouse Gas Strategy, the result of a Greens motion in the Assembly, as being too ambitious. But thankfully, it is now taking climate change seriously" Dr Foskey said today.
"Increased renewable energy targets, feed-in laws for solar power, carbon neutral goals for schools and public buildings, and energy efficiency investment in public housing are all important steps in the right direction."
"Sadly, the target to reduce emissions to 2000 levels by 2025 and by 60% by 2050 is profoundly inadequate."
"Scientists have shown that we can limit the impact of Climate Change only if we hold global warming to 2 degrees. The only way we can do that is to start cutting emissions sooner rather than later. In that context, this target is too small and too distant."
"As a community with one of the biggest footprints and highest emissions in the world, Canberra needs to be leading from the front."
"By merely aiming for 2000 levels by 2025 the ACT government is turning its back on informed scientific advice and dodging the real challenge to reshape our patterns of energy and resource use."
"On the positive side, this strategy can be, and must be, improved over time. I welcome the new role given to the Commissioner for the Environment on oversighting this strategy, and look forward to additional resources being made available to support his office in that role."
"It is pleasing to see a number of initiatives the ACT Greens have championed over the past few years finally getting a guernsey. In addition to the feed in laws to ensure a good return for solar energy providers and the energy efficient retrofitting of public housing, I note the differential stamp duty which would make the purchase of energy efficient cars more attractive that was formally rejected by this government only a few months ago."
"Perhaps, in another year or two, this government might embrace meaningful targets as well" Dr Foskey said.
