(Australia) Two-faced climate policy

[Dead_Parrot]

It's ironic that Australia is moving toward a 'cap' on carbon emissions because while we've got this paper target for a five per cent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2020 we've also got the foot on the accelerator and running in overdrive expanding the coal and gas mining at an unprecedented rate.

Australia is on target to increase CO2 emissions originating from our shores by over 400 per cent. It's a simple trick of accounting: claim a five per cent reduction by ignoring our fossil fuels that are burnt off shore.

This approach of saying one thing while doing another isn't new to politics, but normally doesn't keep currency with the population for so long. Trumpeting supposed carbon action while quadrupling our carbon emissions is a complete farce and has been going on for half a decade.

Amongst a population of 20 million, Australia has a very high level of climate denialism when compared to the political will and actions of 300 million people in Europe.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2012/03/19/3455327.htm