Fed: Carbon trading scheme ambitious but achievable: Economist

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
Fed: Carbon trading scheme ambitious but achievable: Economist

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Australia's commitment to set up a carbon-trading scheme by
2010 is achievable but will take a lot of work in a short period of time, economist Ross
Garnaut says.

Professor Garnaut is researching and compiling a report for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
on emissions trading and its impacts.

The report, due to be released in June, will form the basis of the government's carbon-emissions
targets.

Prof Garnaut said Australia's commitment to begin a carbon-trading scheme by 2010 was
ambitious but achievable.

"I think that's a practical objective although it won't be easy and it'll require a
lot of work in a short period of time," he told ABC Radio today.

"But it's important that we get there as soon as possible and I think those timetables
are achievable."

Mr Rudd is due to attend the United Nations climate-change talks in Bali tomorrow along
with Treasurer Wayne Swan, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and Environment Minister
Peter Garrett.

Prof Garnaut said one of the top priorities of the Australian contingent was to ensure
any climate-change policies were consistent over long periods of time.

"It's going to be very important that the world - and Australia as part of the world
- thinks through what is going to be a sustainable basis for steady long-term policies,"

he said.

"There's going to be no quick fix - it's going to take a lot of long-term structural change."

Prof Garnaut said the Bali talks would only set a framework for discussions on climate
change with no binding targets, despite pressure on developed nations to agree to cut
emissions by 25 to 40 per cent by 2020.

"That's a range, that's there for consideration but no-one expects this meeting in
Bali to reach agreement on anything like that," he said.

"A new government in Australia recently re-joining the international effort through
signing Kyoto will be understood if it says that it is going to take its time."

AAP kc/rl/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: CLIMATE GARNAUT

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