Pilsen Pollution. Credit: Senor Codo/ flickr

By Rich Bowden

Australian environmental groups have welcomed the release of the Greens proposed amendments to the CPRS legislation.

Calling on senators to support the changes to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), the Australian Conservation Foundation’s campaigns director Denise Boyd said  the improvements proposed by the Greens were exactly what was needed to regain the initiative on carbon emissions.

“Senators hoping to amend the Government’s proposed emissions trading scheme should look closely at these proposals,” she said in an ACF news release.

“These are exactly the kind of improvements we need if we want Australia’s emissions trading scheme to be environmentally effective and would send a message to the world that Australia is prepared to walk the talk at home.”

“As it stands the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme gets a ‘pass’.  Any further weakening would make that a ‘fail’,” Ms Boyd added.

The Campaigns Director said the amendments would strengthen the current proposed legislation (considered too weak by most environmental groups) to a level where it would be considered ideal legislation to deal effectively with carbon emissions.

“To amend the scheme along the lines proposed the Greens would lift it to an A,” Ms Boyd said.

The ACF said they were happy to accept the following amendments, which are among 22 proposed by the Greens to the bill due to be discussed in the next parliamentary sitting.

* Set a goal to stabilise concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at 350ppm (parts per million)
* Give Australian emissions trading flexibility to respond to emerging science by reviewing the scheme’s targets every two years
* Include households’ voluntary actions to reduce emissions (by installing insulation, solar panels etc) in national emission reduction goals
* Establish an ambitious program to green-up houses and commercial buildings
* Provide industry assistance to commercialise renewable energy technologies
* Remove perverse subsidies that encourage car use
* Invest heavily in public transport.

Climate change debate urgent

Greens Senator Christine Milne told the ABC’s Radio National that by introducing the amendments, her party recognised the urgency of the climate change debate.

Sen. Christine Milne, Powershift 2009. Credit: mooks262/ flickr

“The Greens are with the scientists and with the community and with the global community in recognising we really have to deal with climate change and do it urgently,” she said.

However Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has all but ruled out negotiating with the Greens on the CPRS saying he was committed to working with the Opposition to hammer out an agreement, reported Sky News.

Tags: ACF, australian greens, carbon pollution, christine milne, cprs, Greens