Australia Reveals Its Plan of Action Against Climate Change

Australia recently made public its plans for tackling climate change for the next 10 to 11 years, setting new goals for reducing carbon emissions throughout the nations. The country is still heavily reliable on coal for its electricity, and politicians agree that now is not the time for the delays requested by the industry. In other words, they will have to cope with the restriction. In the meantime, environmental organizations say that the set of measures is too soft, and that more drastic action is in order.

"It's a total and utter failure. It's madness. Climate change is happening much faster than people thought. Five percent, which is what we are looking at, is an outrage," says John Hepburn, a campaigner for climate currently enlisted in Greenpeace.

"Without action on climate change, Australia faces a future of parched farms, bleached reefs and empty reservoirs," added Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, during a National Press Club conference.

Thus far, authorities only agreed to reduce pollution by as much as 5 to 15 percent, a limit that is much lower than the one discussed and established for the European Union. But Rudd says that Australia's effort is far greater, because per capita emissions are larger here. In fact, the nation has the fourth largest average of carbon emissions per capita in the world, so the Prime Minister claims that Australians will have a much tougher battle to fight.

"You could say that the decision came down to a choice between the environment and the economy and at this stage it looks like the economy has won," argues the head of Newedge environmental derivatives, Gary Cox.

A new carbon trading system was also included in the new goals, but critics say that it will simply allow companies to buy their way out of restraints, and pollute even further. "It seems a bit like the old game of one foot on the brake and one foot on the accelerator, having a bet each way and I'm not sure the numbers add up," concludes Asia-Pacific Emissions Trading Forum executive manager, Brett Janissen.