Australia Swears Mighty Oath To Cut GHG Emissions 5% By 2020 Using 2000 Baseline - AFP

[hatrack]

Ooh.

Australia will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least five percent compared to 2000 levels by 2020 to help combat climate change, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday. Just over one year after coming into power, the centre-left Labor Party leader unveiled his administration's targets to counter the rising levels of atmospheric pollution blamed for global warming.

Rudd said that, as one of the hottest and driest continents on earth, Australia could not afford to sit on the sidelines as the world risked rising temperatures and changed weather patterns from climate change. "By the end of 2020, we will reduce Australia's carbon pollution by between five percent and 15 percent below 2000 levels," he told the National Press Club in Canberra.

As at least one protester tried to interrupt by shouting at the prime minister, Rudd continued: "Five percent below 2000 levels is our minimum, unconditional commitment to reduce emissions by 2020, irrespective of the actions of other nations."

"Fifteen percent below 2000 levels is our commitment to reduce emissions further if there is a global agreement where all major economies commit to substantially restrain emissions and advanced economies take on comparable reductions to that of Australia."

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2007/081215031628.3stv7429.html

Shame the guy in the audience didn't have a shoe . . .

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Hooray! We're saved!

Oh, wait a minute...