Australia Sets Goal Of 5% GHG Cut By 2020 In Absence Of Action By US, China, Others - SMH

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AUSTRALIA has declared it will not go beyond a 5 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 without guaranteed action by major emitters including the US, China and India.

The Government's formal submission to the Copenhagen Accord - the widely criticised agreement hatched between the US and major developing countries at the conference last month - pledges to cut emissions between 5 and 25 per cent below 2000 levels. It is the same range taken to the December meeting, bucking some expectations the Government would commit to a specific target.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said the Government would stick to its minimalist position unless there was substantial and verifiable action internationally. If the impasse in global climate negotiations is not resolved in 2011, the Government will set a 5 per cent target under its proposed emissions trading scheme, giving business certainty for the planned start of full trading in July 2012.

Green groups criticised the Government for putting the onus on developing countries to prove they are serious about tackling climate change before Australia moves beyond 5 per cent. Several analyses have estimated that commitments made in the lead-up to last year's Copenhagen summit would trigger Australia signing up to about a 15 per cent cut. But Senator Wong said Australia's position ''was consistent with our commitments to do no more and no less than the rest of the world''.

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http://www.smh.com.au/environment/minimal-climate-goal-set-20100127-myxn.html