Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese today endorsed the Australian Government’s decision to join a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
“Signing the Kyoto Protocol was one of our first actions after winning government in 2007,” said Mr Albanese.
“That five year commitment ends this year and it is important that we continue to take action to combat climate change.
“That is why we introduced the Clean Energy Future legislation which placed a price on carbon and why we are investing more than $5 billion in developing and commercialising clean energy technologies.”
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Greg Combet announced today that Australia will go to the United Nations climate change negotiations in Doha, Qatar committed to limiting its greenhouse gas emissions from 2013 to 2020 with a Kyoto target consistent with the bipartisan target of reducing emissions to five percent below 2000 levels by 2020.
The decision to renew the Kyoto commitment ensures Australian businesses have access to international credits under the Clean Development Mechanism, helping Australia reduce emissions at the lowest cost to the economy.
Australia is also working towards a new global agreement, which will include Brazil, China, Europe, India, Japan and USA, that will have legally binding commitments for emitters.
“Having already taken action with our Clean Energy scheme, Australia is now well placed to meet international commitments to further reduce carbon emissions,” said Mr Albanese.