S. Africa Rejects Rudd's Emissions "Low Bid" - Aus. Has Surrendered "Moral Leadership" On Climate

SOUTH Africa has quickly rejected the Australian Government's climate change package as an inadequate "opening bid", warning that unless it is strengthened developing countries will refuse to sign a global climate package. South Africa has emerged as one of the most influential developing nations in climate negotiations and is widely seen as a potential bridge between rich and poor nations.

Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in London yesterday that the Rudd Government had not gone far enough when it promised this week to cut Australia's carbon emissions to 5 per cent below their 2000 level by 2020, with the possibility of 15 per cent cuts if the rest of the world signed up to a global pact.

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If the industrialised countries that had produced the most carbon emissions over the past two centuries wanted poorer nations to share the pain of fighting the consequences, the rich nations would have to lead the way with cuts in "the upper ranges of 25 to 40" per cent on 1990 levels by 2020, Mr van Schalkwyk said.

"And Australia agreed to that last year in Bali as did all other countries ... We are a bit disheartened by the fact that some developed countries are suddenly having second thoughts." South African officials say privately that Kevin Rudd has surrendered the "bridging role" and "moral leadership" he could have exercised after signing up to the Kyoto Protocol last year.

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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24816553-11949,00.html

but nothing could stem the avalanche.