Emission excuses compound embarrassment

BY SEAN HEALY

Friends of the Earth (FoE) Australia has described as “embarrassing” new figures which show a massive blowout in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, to 16.9% above 1990 levels. The group has accused federal environment minister Senator Robert Hill of offering “baseless excuses” by linking the increase in emissions to Australia's economic growth.

FoE said on July 14 that Hill's claims were disproved by international evidence that there is no reason for economic growth to be linked to greenhouse gas emissions. “Globally in 1999, emissions dropped by 0.5%, while the world economy expanded 2.5%”, said climate campaigner Tristy Fairfield. “In 1998, China's economy grew by 7.2% while its emissions dropped 3.7%. Denmark and Germany have also had remarkable success in decoupling energy demand from economic growth.”

“The federal government's pathetic attempts to justify its poor performance will not work”, said FoE campaigner Alan Hoban. “It is clear to everyone that this government simply does not have the political will to tackle the true causes of our greenhouse gas emissions, such as subsidies to fossil fuels and land-clearing.”

Hill's statement that “we have invested almost $1 billion in action programs to bring down greenhouse gas emissions” fails to mention the failure of current programs like the Greenhouse Challenge, FoE said.

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