5 December 2005news.com.au / The Australian
Australia would sign onto a future global regime to reduce greenhouse gas emissions provided such a deal was comprehensive and included the majority of greenhouse gas emitting nations, Environment Minister Ian Campbell said today.Senator Campbell, who is heading off to the Montreal conference on climate change, said Australia would participate in discussions on building a constructive framework once the Kyoto agreement on greenhouse emissions ends in 2012.
He said the government believed what was needed was a comprehensive agreement among all or the majority of greenhouse emitters.
Senator Campbell said he didn't conceive what that post-Kyoto framework was going to look like just yet.
"But I think it is useful for Australia to go there, saying that we will be part of some future framework as long as it is comprehensive, as long as it puts a pathway to action for a significant portion of the world's emissions," he told ABC radio.
"The scientists tell us, to make something useful and comprehensive, you need about 85 per cent of the world's emitters in that future compact."
Senator Campbell said the Americans at this stage were saying they didn't want to be talking about any post-Kyoto framework.
"So there is quite a substantial difference in the Australian and the American position even though a lot of people do like to lump us together whenever it suits them," he said.
The United Nations conference at Montreal is trying to set out preliminary plans to further cut emissions when the accord ends in 2012.
Australia has resisted signing onto the controversial Kyoto protocol which became fully operational last week when the Montreal conference adopted its final rules.
The 34 signatory countries, not including the United States or Australia, passed the final regulatory measures by consensus.
Senator Campbell said he always doubted that the targeted timetable approach that was the centrepiece of Kyoto would get the support needed in the next few years.
"We do need something that is a lot broader. I have been pushing what I call a multiple track approach which sees the Kyoto mechanisms significantly improved and made more efficient," he said.
Senator Campbell said this was an approach that would see the regional and technological partnerships working in a complementary way to the Kyoto mechanisms, into a more comprehensive framework.
