Australia 23% increase in emissions over 13 years

A report prepared by the Bonn-based United Nations Climate Change secretariat and released this week ahead of the international climate conference in Montreal later this month warned that the western world was losing its grip on the climate change problem.

The report, covering the period between 1990 and 2003, found Australia's greenhouse gas emissions had risen 23.3 per cent on 1990 levels.

I believe Australia has the biggest or second biggest ecological footprint per capita, so it's not like we are coming off a low base here.

The Australian Government's target is to limit emissions increases to 108 per cent of 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012.

Yea, right! But what of the oft heard arguement that limiting emissions would limit our GDP? The opposition is testing that claim.

"Given Australia is on track to be having the hottest year on record, it's clear the Howard government is fiddling while Australia is burning," opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said.

"Having acknowledged the threat posed by climate change, the government has to take action to address this crisis."

Mr Albanese said Britain's 13 per cent reduction in its emissions since 1990 had coincided with 38 per cent growth in GDP, proving that good environmental policy could also be good for the economy.

It's not all bad news though.

UN researchers found that overall in the industrialised world, greenhouse gas emissions were down 5.9 per cent in 2003 compared to the 1990 levels.

Global Warning, Climate Change, Environment, Greenhouse Gas, Australia