States commit to greenhouse gas cuts

13 April 2007
NewScientist.com news service

Defying their prime minister, John Howard, Australia's states vowed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions on Friday, and to set up a national system of carbon trading by 2010 to combat global warming.

Howard, who faces a tough election battle later this year, refused to join the plan and said setting greenhouse targets would damage the economy and the nation's standing as the world's largest coal exporter.

"The states told me of their views in relation to an emissions trading system," but the federal government is "unwilling to commit to a particular target, because of the possible consequences of that to the economy, especially to jobs," Howard said after meeting the leaders of the nation's six states and two territories on Friday 13 April.

Instead, Howard has backed the establishment of an AUS$126 million (US$105 million) centre to explore ways for Australia to adapt to climate change. "We all agreed that adaptation to climate change was an important issue and I announced that the Commonwealth would establish a national centre for climate change adaptation," he said.

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