Opposition Blasts Australian Deal With China On Climate, GHGs

"Australia's new deal with China to tackle the issue of greenhouse gas emissions has evoked a cynical response from campaigners, who have demanded stronger environmental policies at home. The two countries on Monday agreed on six new projects to help combat problems caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

They range from using satellite imagery to measure emissions from farms, to helping China formulate a national climate change strategy. The deal was signed in Beijing during a visit by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who said both countries had much to gain from a bilateral program targeting climate change.

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"One wonders how the Howard government aims to help China develop a national climate change strategy when China is streets ahead of Australia in real action," Greenpeace spokeswoman Catherine Fitzpatrick said. China's policy to move to clean energy with their new 10 per cent renewable energy target is on a par with the best in the world and dwarfs Australia's two per cent target. "This puts the lie to the frequent statements by the federal government that Australia cannot ratify Kyoto until countries like China pull their weight on climate action."

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Democrats environment spokeswoman Senator Lyn Allison said the agreement was little more than a gesture from an Australian government which continued to support retrograde, fossil-fuel-friendly energy policies. She said little would come from the deal. "Our climate change deal with the US, used as an excuse by Mr Howard to not ratify Kyoto, has delivered nothing but voluntary measures and this bilateral agreement appears unlikely to achieve much either," Senator Allison said."

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