Senator Brown Warns of Cataclysmic Times if no Action on Polluters
CANBERRA—Australian Greens leader Bob Brown has warned the globe faces "cataclysmic times" if nations fail to take strong action on climate change.
The long-time environmental advocate issued the dire warning as he urged the Federal Government against taking a softly, softly approach as it introduced an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Senator Brown today told the National Press Club there could be problems if the Government set too low a carbon price or too many exemptions at the start of any scheme.
"We know the experience in Europe was with grandfathering opportunities for big polluters the scheme collapsed ... and they made lots of money they didn't deserve," he said.
"They're getting back on their feet now - thank goodness they gave us that experience to draw on.
"There should be no exemptions, no free handouts.
"If you give exemptions to polluters, the cost goes onto the community and why shouldn't polluters pay. Why should the community, through foregone revenue or added costs, have to pay that burden?"
Senator Brown was unwilling to choose which was preferable - a delay in introducing an emissions scheme or having a less-than-perfect model at the start.
"We must do (this) at latest by 2010," Senator Brown said.
"The importance is urgency, but also getting the scheme right."
He chastised the former Howard Government for failing to act on an emissions scheme throughout its term in government.
"It should have happened a decade ago. It didn't because (former Prime Minister John Howard) was a roadblock," Senator Brown said.
"Thank goodness we do have a new set of people addressing the ideas ... Let's hope they rise to the challenge."
The Greens want a 40 per cent reduction in emissions - from 1990 levels - by 2020 and a carbon neutral Australia by 2050.
"The penalty clause for us not acting is almost unthinkable. This planet, this country is on the verge of cataclysmic times, such as the human collective experience has ever known," Senator Brown said.
"I'm not talking here as a green politician. I am talking on the basis of the experience, the study, and the dire warnings from the world's best thinkers."
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Extraordinary push by Howard against Bipartisanship-Brown
CANBERRA—Greens leader Bob Brown has accused former Prime Minister John Howard of emerging from retirement merely to prevent Australia achieving bipartisanship on the global emergency of climate change.
Mr Howard, in a speech in Perth last night, said it was correct for the coalition to be cautious over the proposed emissions trading scheme's start-up date of 2010 and that it was hypocritical for Labor to seek bipartisan support on all policy.
Senator Brown said this was an extraordinary stance for the former Prime Minister to take and accused Mr Howard's Government of having stood in the way of dealing with the global warming problem for 11 years.
"Curiously enough, we've had a blast from the past, (with former) Prime Minister (John) Howard saying we shouldn't be bipartisan about this," Senator Brown told ABC Radio.
"What an extraordinary thing.
"In wars we've had bipartisan support. Here we have a global emergency which is going to have a catastrophic effect on the planet and our grandchildren, and we've got a former Prime Minister saying, on a political point, we simply shouldn't be having the nation working together to help solve this problem.
"Of course we should be working together."
Senator Brown said the Greens wholeheartedly supported the 2010 start-up date for an emissions trading scheme (ETS) but believed the federal opposition's support for it was wavering.
"It's very, very important that the opposition be not just on the side of action on climate change but on the side of 23 million Australians," he said.
"We have to take a lead on this and as (climate change economist) Professor Ross Garnaut said last week, we have to do that to get other countries to come on board.
"There needs to be a lead taken and Australia should do that because Australia is going to be, and has already been, more greatly affected by climate change. Witness the massive, enduring droughts we're having at the moment, for one.
"Therefore, it's in our interests to be taking a lead and setting standards that the rest of the world can follow."
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