While Garnaut Calls for Urgent Action, Iemma Govt Shirks Responsibility 
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| Tuesday, 08 July 2008 | ||||||
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“To every Australian, Professor Garnaut’s report is an alarming wake up call for action on climate change – everyone apart from the Iemma Government,” Mr Baird said. “The Iemma Government’s strategy to deal with climate change is to trot out hollow targets it has no intention of meeting, while delegating the problem to the federal government. “Yesterday we heard the Treasurer believes ‘we are now entering a period’ in which new energy investment is needed to keep supply in line with demand* – the Treasurer has obviously had his head in the sand. “Experts have been predicting for years that demand would outstrip supply, with energy use radically increasing, however not one new generator has been built in NSW in 15 years. “The Government knows that Country Energy’s trial of smart meters proved smart meters are an effective way of reducing household energy consumption and yet they haven’t put their money where their mouth is. “Alarmingly, leaked Cabinet documents revealed last week the Iemma Government has no plan for dealing with pollution from coal generators and yet the generators are responsible for almost half the State’s carbon emissions. “NSW needs to follow the lead of the United States and install carbon reduction technologies in its generators. Greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S fell by 54 million metric tonnes one year after ‘scrubbers’ were installed**. “The Treasurer is concerned with compensating the State’s generators for an emissions trading scheme because he knows his Government has failed to prepare for carbon trading and this has eroded the sale price of the assets.” MEDIA: Lisa Harrington - 0406 726 880 ** US Government’s Energy Information Administration – www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epa_sum.html Add to:          Write Comment
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