ID :
40237
Mon, 01/12/2009 - 18:02
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40237
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Victoria is not a dirty state: govt
A riled Environment Minister Gavin Jennings has hit back at claims that Victoria is the dirty state for its record on greenhouse pollution.
The state's emissions grew by 2.2 million tonnes last year, or 2.1 per cent, with increases in petrol and brown coal pollution.
At the same time, emissions in NSW decreased by 500,000 tonnes and the combined emissions of the two states and Queensland grew by 1.3 per cent.
Acting Premier Rob Hulls blamed population growth for the increase outlined in the Climate Group's 2008 emissions audit.
Mr Jennings said Victoria had led the fight against carbon pollution over the past two decades, with emissions since 2000 increasing less than one per cent, compared with more than four per cent in Queensland and three per cent in NSW.
"Victoria has been playing a leadership role in the energy sector and will continue to play a leadership role in reducing our emissions profile."
Mr Jennings said in 1990 Victoria belched out 24.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases per person, compared with 23.5 last year.
Business created 710 tonnes of greenhouse gases for every $1 million worth of activity 18 years ago, compared with 510 today.
Mr Jennings said he expected emissions growth to plateau within two years but admitted there was more to be done.
"Not for one second will we shirk from being vigilant and being determined to playing a leadership role in greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and around the world."
Climate Group director Rupert Posner gave Victoria a bare pass rate on reducing emissions and said plundering the state's cheap brown coal had come at a price.
"So what's really important is that we start curbing our addiction to coal; we need to use energy more efficiently and we need to speed up the introduction of renewable energy," he said.
Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman David Davis said the report was a wake-up call for Victorians.
He said the government had failed on its 2002 promise to reduce emissions by 8.5 million tonnes by 2006.
Mr Posner said most of the increase in emissions was from coal-fired generators with both Queensland and Victoria producing an extra 1.5 million tonnes each.
"We are seeing an increase demand for electricity and a large reduction in amount of hydro-electricity," Mr Posner said.
"Everybody needs to cut their energy consumption; it's the responsibility of the federal and state governments, businesses and consumers.
"We also need to encourage the uptake of renewable energy."
Queensland Greens spokeswoman Libby Connors said the state's poor carbon report card reflected the little effort the Queensland government was pouring into renewable energy such as solar power.
"The Labor government has failed to invest in alternative energy," Ms Connors said.
"The way forward is to reduce the state's dependence on coal-fired power stations but the (renewable energy) industry gets no assistance from the state government apart from a minor solar power campaign."
Mr Posner said overall levels were 19 per cent higher in 2008 than in the year 2000.
"The Greenhouse Indicator's 2008 results clearly show we all need to start taking action now if we want to reduce our greenhouse pollution," he said.
"The window of opportunity open to us to prevent dangerous climate change is becoming smaller but there are lots of things that people can do immediately to start making a difference."
The state's emissions grew by 2.2 million tonnes last year, or 2.1 per cent, with increases in petrol and brown coal pollution.
At the same time, emissions in NSW decreased by 500,000 tonnes and the combined emissions of the two states and Queensland grew by 1.3 per cent.
Acting Premier Rob Hulls blamed population growth for the increase outlined in the Climate Group's 2008 emissions audit.
Mr Jennings said Victoria had led the fight against carbon pollution over the past two decades, with emissions since 2000 increasing less than one per cent, compared with more than four per cent in Queensland and three per cent in NSW.
"Victoria has been playing a leadership role in the energy sector and will continue to play a leadership role in reducing our emissions profile."
Mr Jennings said in 1990 Victoria belched out 24.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases per person, compared with 23.5 last year.
Business created 710 tonnes of greenhouse gases for every $1 million worth of activity 18 years ago, compared with 510 today.
Mr Jennings said he expected emissions growth to plateau within two years but admitted there was more to be done.
"Not for one second will we shirk from being vigilant and being determined to playing a leadership role in greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and around the world."
Climate Group director Rupert Posner gave Victoria a bare pass rate on reducing emissions and said plundering the state's cheap brown coal had come at a price.
"So what's really important is that we start curbing our addiction to coal; we need to use energy more efficiently and we need to speed up the introduction of renewable energy," he said.
Opposition scrutiny of government spokesman David Davis said the report was a wake-up call for Victorians.
He said the government had failed on its 2002 promise to reduce emissions by 8.5 million tonnes by 2006.
Mr Posner said most of the increase in emissions was from coal-fired generators with both Queensland and Victoria producing an extra 1.5 million tonnes each.
"We are seeing an increase demand for electricity and a large reduction in amount of hydro-electricity," Mr Posner said.
"Everybody needs to cut their energy consumption; it's the responsibility of the federal and state governments, businesses and consumers.
"We also need to encourage the uptake of renewable energy."
Queensland Greens spokeswoman Libby Connors said the state's poor carbon report card reflected the little effort the Queensland government was pouring into renewable energy such as solar power.
"The Labor government has failed to invest in alternative energy," Ms Connors said.
"The way forward is to reduce the state's dependence on coal-fired power stations but the (renewable energy) industry gets no assistance from the state government apart from a minor solar power campaign."
Mr Posner said overall levels were 19 per cent higher in 2008 than in the year 2000.
"The Greenhouse Indicator's 2008 results clearly show we all need to start taking action now if we want to reduce our greenhouse pollution," he said.
"The window of opportunity open to us to prevent dangerous climate change is becoming smaller but there are lots of things that people can do immediately to start making a difference."
