Bob Brown says more action needed on greenhouse
By Jon Land
John Howard has been strengthened in his push for non-binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions at the Kyoto summit in December, by the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. CHOGM issued a declaration on October 26 rejecting binding targets and calling for "realistic and achievable goals" to be set.
According to Howard, the declaration proved that "common sense and justice" had prevailed.
Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown told Green Left Weekly that Australia should at least match the European target of a 15% reduction by the year 2010.
"The Greens believe the European reduction — and within that the German reduction of 25% — is the sort of target that for an interim we should be aiming at, while we get down to the job of really reigning in global warming. It is going to take much stronger measures than those that come out of Kyoto.
"Even if the 15% target was reached worldwide by developing countries, global warming would continue for the next century and have massive effects on the way the planet functions. We think this target is minimal".
Brown supports the plans for public protests and mobilisations to coincide with the start of the Kyoto conference. "This is an excellent way of allowing Australians to get out on the streets and into the public arena to press their disgust with the failure of the Howard government and the previous Labor government on this issue."
Howard is planning to announce Australia's detailed position before the APEC meeting in Canada next month, which would provide the opportunity for "a new affirmation of our rejection of the European Union's position", according to Brown.