Climate report racked up 'carbon miles'

Professor Ross Garnaut may be trying to cut Australia's greenhouse gas emissions,
but the paper on which his report was printed came from Italy.
And no one thought to offset the "carbon miles" racked up over the long journey.

Transporting goods over long distances can release greenhouse gas emissions, and
conservationists say it's best to use local equivalents where possible.
Prof Garnaut is the federal government's climate change adviser. The glossy paper in
question was used in Prof Garnaut's 530-page draft report, released in June.
Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said her department paid just over
$18,000 for the special Italian paper. It's 80 per cent recycled and 20 per cent
chlorine-free pulp from well-managed forests.
"There were two Australian options, which were assessed by the printer as being of
lower quality," she said in a written answer to a question from Liberal Senator Eric
Abetz.
"The carbon miles used to bring the paper to Australia have not been calculated or
offset."
Senator Abetz said the professor should have used "carbon friendly" Australian paper.
"It's astounding that the draft Garnaut report into climate change was printed on
imported, expensive and above all, carbon guzzling paper," he said.
Senator Abetz expressed hope that Prof Garnaut's final report, issued in September,
used Australian paper.
The final report is printed on certified "greenhouse friendly" paper, but it doesn't
say where the paper comes from.
According to the Wilderness Society, the most environmentally-friendly paper
available in Australia is made overseas.
The carbon miles racked up in transportation does less damage than logging for some
locally-produced paper, the Society says.