The Australian Senate killed off the emissions trading scheme (ETS) put forward by the Australian Government led by Labour Party Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He will now go to the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in 2 weeks without his legislation (just like Obama) since parliament has now recessed for the southern summer.
Tony Abbott
Recently, the opposition Liberal party elected a new leader, Tony Abbott, and he said from the beginning that he opposed the legislation. He has now dumped an ETS from Liberal policy at the next election and opened the debate on nuclear power. However, he is still pledging to cut emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 although he promises “no new tax”.
The Government has not given up and says it is giving the Liberal Party the summer to think about climate change before it brings its emissions trading legislation back into Parliament in February.
The Senate has rejected the ETS legislation twice, at least three months apart, and the Government can now call an election on the issue if it wants although it’s not clear if they will.
Australia’s action are important since it had been the leader in introducing emissions reduction legislation. But now Climategate has made many Australian politicians doubt that the science is settled. Further, Tony Abbott realistically sees that Australia’s effort without participation by China and the U.S. would be meaningless. He also advocates implementing clean nuclear power.
The Copenhagen talks are now expected to be just that – talks. With no outcome other than some rhetoric that says more talks will follow. I expect the focus to be on what the under-developed countries want as compensation from developed countries.
Tags: Australia, Climategate
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