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Australian Embassy, Lisbon
Press Release - 13 November 2006
Australia says a new Kyoto deal is needed
A report by the International Energy Agency, which predicted that China would become the largest producer of greenhouse gas in the next few years, showed why the world needed a New Kyoto arrangement, the Australian Minister for the Environment, Senator Ian Campbell, said in Canberra recently.
Senator Campbell said that the Energy Agency’s recent - World Energy Outlook 2006 Report- indicated that unregulated emissions from China, India and other developing nations would account for most of the increase in greenhouse gas being pumped into the atmosphere over the coming decades.
The report said that China alone would be responsible for 39 per cent of the rise in global emissions and would overtake the United States as the world's biggest emitter before 2010, with emissions more than doubling between 2004 and 2030.
“This is exactly why the world needs a New Kyoto,” Senator Campbell said.
“Under the old Kyoto Protocol, fast-growing developing nations such as China and India do not have to do a single thing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. They can emit as much greenhouse gas as they like. “In fact under the old Kyoto rulings, global greenhouse gas emissions would increase by 40 per cent.”
Senator Campbell said the IAE’s report’s emphasized the need for international cooperation and this was what the New Kyoto proposal was about.
“We clearly need a New Kyoto plan which has all countries pulling their weight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “As Australia has consistently said, climate change is a problem shared by the whole world.
“The old Kyoto arrangement hasn’t been successful - so what we need is something that is environmentally effective, economically efficient, includes all the major emitters, and does not impose an unfair burden on any country.”
Senator Campbell said the report highlighted the world’s reliance on fossil fuels for energy over the coming decades.
“The world, particularly the developing world where power is needed to pull people out of severe poverty and illness, is going to need fossil fuels for energy. Australia is uniquely placed to capitalise on this through its large reserves of coal and uranium. “Investment in technologies to clean up coal is therefore a key part of the solution and is why Australia is spending millions of dollars to do this.
Senator Campbell said that the IAE’s report supported the Australian Government’s push for a multi-track approach through a suite of measures including:
• renewable energy such as solar and wind;
• energy efficiency measures;
• technologies to clean up our coal-fired power stations;
• more efficient vehicles;
• using alternative fuels;
• ending deforestation; and
• increasing the world’s nuclear capacity.
The report also specifically acknowledged the contribution which nuclear power could make to reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Canberra
13 November 2006
For more information on this subject:
- www.deh.gov.au
- www.deh.gov.au/about/publications/annual-report/05-06/pubs/deh-annualreport05-06-vol1.pdf
- www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/media_Release2216.html