Howard lacks courage to tackle climate change
Sydney Thursday, 12 January, 2006 : In response to Prime Minister Howard's statement this morning, Greenpeace climate
and energy campaign leader, Catherine Fitzpatrick said:
"Prime Minister Howard this morning failed to make the courageous decisions that are necessary to tackle climate change.
"The $100 million he has offered stands in comparison to $55 million his government has spent on advertising their
industrial relations changes and $150 million on upgrading the coal infrastructure in the Hunter Valley.
"Not only that, but only a quarter of the $100 million is earmarked for actual spending on renewable energy, with some
of the rest allocated to yet more meetings to delay real action.
"The Prime Minister effectively said this morning that his government doesn't believe it's worth spending the money to
really tackle climate change. The Australian people, battling bushfires, drought and heatwaves, won't take kindly to
that attitude.
“If it is true that the USA is only allocating $52 million, the sum total of the US and Australian commitments only
barely matches the Howard Government's investment in upgrading the Hunter coal network.
"As the 'Coal Pact' meeting in Sydney now enters its final stage, we are deeply concerned that Australia and the USA
will not only miss the opportunity to lead us towards the renewable energy economy that we need to tackle climate
change, but won't even take the first simple and effective steps down that road.
"While China is taking leadership, moving to double its renewable energy infrastructure, Australia and the USA are
trying to convince them to move backwards into the coal age. It will be interesting to see if the countries and business
groups can come to an agreement today."