By Rich Bowden:
Key environmental groups have greeted Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcement of a “citizens’ assembly” on climate change a cool response.
The PM announced the move at the University of Queensland earlier today. However the speech, which included plans for the setting up of an independent group of scientists in an effort to build consensus among Australians for an emissions trading scheme, was greeted with skepticism by green groups.
“Our challenge is to answer the community’s questions and develop the community’s commitment to taking the right action,” said Ms Gillard. However the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) pointed out in a news release that the “people are ready now” for action on climate change and called on voters to pressure the government through letters to the media.
“Let’s be clear. This is about delay,” said the release. “While we wait twelve more months for the citizen’s assembly to debate the science that is already settled, Australia’s pollution will be rising.”
The foundation pointed out that: “polls have consistently shown that Australians want action on climate change. They want our Government to have a plan, and to make it happen.”
WWF-Australia called the announcement an “insult” to voters who elected a Labor Government in 2007, partly on its promise to introduce an emissions trading scheme.
“Labor’s climate policy fails to deliver the urgent action needed, and continues to ignore loud and clear community support which already exists for an emissions trading scheme,” said Dr Llewellyn.
“It’s clear that when it comes to action on climate change, the Government is not moving forwards, but backwards.
“The idea of a new citizen assembly to determine climate policy is an insult to the millions of Australians who voted for an emissions trading scheme in 2007. It is also an insult to the 4,000 people and organisations who made submissions
to the previous consultation process, the Garnaut Review,” it said.
