A wedge through green movement

Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday 5/5/2009 Page: 4

THE Federal Government's revised emissions trading scheme has caused the environment movement to cave in on itself. The Greens dismissed the Government's decision to reconsider a 25% greenhouse pollution reduction target as an "almost irrelevant green distraction'' and were privately critical of the groups that supported it. Three environment groups, the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF and the Climate Institute Australia, said it was important the amended package was passed by Parliament.

The three groups, which were consulted by the Government about its changes, struggled with the decision to support the new version but decided it was critical that Australia did everything it could to ensure international talks later this year produced a strong result.

''We acknowledge that the Government is now proposing a softer start to the emissions trading scheme, but believe that the stronger 2020 target gives Australia the best chance of helping to achieve a good international climate agreement," the three groups said in a joint statement that was also signed by the peak union body the ACTU and by the Australian Council of Social Service.

Members of the environment groups said the new deal was far from perfect but they believed it was important Australia was prepared to officially consider a 25% reduction target. Business voiced support for the changes - after lobbying for a year's delay on the scheme.

The chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, Heather Ridout, said: "For some time Al Group has argued for a delay in the start date, an initial period of modest impact that gives business time to adjust, and the improvements in the arrangements for trade-exposed businesses." Senator Christine Milne, from the Greens, said the delay meant very little would happen on climate change until 2012.

Before the Government announced the changes yesterday, the Greens had written to the Prime Minister offering to support the legislation if the Government agreed to an unconditional 2020 target of 25% . The Government has said it will only consider a 25% target if the rest of the world agrees to equivalent measures. Government sources yesterday were pessimistic this would happen. The Greens will today launch a television commercial criticising the scheme and asking for public support to fix it.