Make PNG an ally on emissions

Daily Telegraph
Thursday 21/2/2008 Page: 9

THE Federal Government's adviser on climate change says Australia should set up a greenhouse emissions trading scheme with Indonesia and PNG. Economist Professor Ross Garnaut, commissioned by Labor last year, will this afternoon release his interim report. Yesterday he told the Solar Cities Conference that PNG's cheap, renewable energy resources were a goldmine for reducing harmful carbon emissions and a bilateral agreement would be more cost-effective than if Australia acted alone.

"Given the scope for large cuts in emissions in PNG through rapid reductions in deforestation, it is highly likely that Australia could purchase freed-up emissions permits," Professor Garnaut said. He is understood to support short-term reduction targets, but is concerned about emissions ballooning immediately before and after the target date.