The Prime Minister John Howard would not agree with the state Premiers in Canberra last Friday to set a definitive target of greenhouse gas emissions. They were urging him to adopt a target of 60% reduction by 2050. The prime minister has said he won't adopt a target till he sees the report of a federal task force on carbon emissions, due out in May.

"The cynics amongst us might see this as just more obfuscation by the PM," said Matthew Wright, spokesman for Beyond Zero Emissions. "He is driven by an unhealthy closeness to the fossil fuel industries and the energy intensive industries. But perhaps another scenario might play out?"

The question remains: is the target of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 a good one? Already we have entered a period of dangerous climate change, with the rapid disappearance of the Arctic ice cap. With the accelerated melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the commencement of frequent large ice-quakes as the massive ice sheet moves and cracks, there is already the danger of major sea level rises in the next 30 years.

The recent Stern Report commissioned by the British Government indicated the catastrophic consequences of a 2ºC temperature rise above pre-industrial levels. Yet the British Government's current carbon emissions reduction target of 60% by 2050 would still leave a 63-99 per cent chance of causing a world wide temperature rise exceeding 2ºC. (The reason for multiple percentage risks is the variety of computer models that calculate at slightly different odds.)

"Premier of South Australia Mike Rann says that having no greenhouse gas reduction target is like flying blind," says Mr Wright. "But having a target that has very poor odds of protecting the planet, even if it is fully achieved, is like deliberately flying with your eyes open - into a brick wall."

"The prime minister should not follow the inadequate 60% reduction target by 2050, but instead be inspired by the courage of Republican Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger's tougher target (of 80% reduction by 2050) and go on to adopt the target that the planet really needs - which is near zero emissions by 2020" said Mr Wright.

This is not a dream target. It has been the official target of the City of Melbourne for many years, and is being picked up by more and more councils and other organisations as the months go by.
(Press release prepared with the assistance of Philip Sutton - GSI)

For Comment Ring Matthew Wright 0421 616 733

City of Melbourne Zero Net Emissions by 2020 Strategy

City of Moreland, Shire of Mount Alexander have adopted net zero emissions by 2020. City of Moreland has adopted net zero emissions for the community for 2030

Shire of Yarra Ranges have committed $790,000 to go net zero emissions within 12 months

Victorian water authority, City West Water, will achieve net zero emissions by June 30

Jim Hansen NASA Climatology: Ice Melting will be both Sea and Temperature Trigger
"Third, because CO2 is already near the dangerous level, steps must be taken to 'draw down' atmospheric CO2. Farming and forestry practices that enhance carbon retention and storage in the soil and biosphere must be supported. In addition, burning biofuels in power plants with carbon capture and sequestration can draw down atmospheric CO2 , in effect putting anthropogenic CO2 back underground where it came from. CO2 sequestered beneath ocean sediments is inherently stable , and other safe geologic sites may also be available."

Jim Hansen's papers at Columbia University

UK Met Office, Weather and Climate Change

UK Met Office Hadley Centre - Risk Assessment translated

Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech - 25% (of 2006) by 2020 / 80% of 1990 by 2050 greenhouse cuts.

For comment ring: Matthew Wright 0421 616 733
www.beyondzeroemissions.org
Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign.