ETS debate 'entertains' US ambassador

The US Congress is poised for the kind of "robust" debate on climate change policy
now dominating Australian politics, says newly appointed US ambassador Jeffrey
Bleich.

Delivering his first official address since arriving in Australia last week, Mr
Bleich says he's been impressed and entertained by opposition ructions and federal
parliament's deliberations on an emissions trading scheme (ETS).
A long-time friend of President Barack Obama, he told guests that the US
administration was committed to reducing carbon emissions and President Obama was
looking forward to working with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on a global approach to
the problem.
"People and our planet are relying on the United States," he told a Perth lunch.
Mr Bleich would not be drawn on whether Australia should be taking a
parliament-sanctioned ETS to the Copenhagen climate change talks.
"I can't really comment on what Australia should or shouldn't do," Mr Bleich said.
"But I think this has been very impressive. It's been a very robust debate.
"It's been entertaining as well.
"It's been very interesting for me as ambassador to see some of the challenges that
have been raised ... and I expect this is happening in capitals around the world.
"So whether things work out at Copenhagen or they work out later, I think the
process that's going on right now is important to put forward climate change (on the
global agenda)."
Mr Bleich said he expected strong debate within Congress on the Clean Energy bill
that has gone through the US House of Representatives.
The bill recommends a reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005
levels by 2020 and calls for pollution permits, the majority of which would
initially be given away free to utilities, manufacturers and government authorities.
"I expect similar robust debate (to that in Australia) within the house of Congress
before the final determination," Mr Bleich said.
"I don't think we're going to see a double dissolution but we'll see what happens.
... ".
Mr Bleich, a former law clerk for the chief justice of the US Supreme Court, said
the US "simply has no better friend in this world" than Australia.
He said the two nations shared common values and interest in issues ranging from
security and finance to the environment and the threat from nuclear proliferation.
He said their regional interests were the other binding force in the relationship.
"The Australian-US bilateral relationship was built by far sighted people over
generations and the alliance has solid bipartisan support in both countries because
it's built on these pillars of security, prosperity and most importantly our shared
values," he said.
"It is solid because it hasn't been neglected.
"We tend to focus on long-term goals rather than on short-term self interest to
resolve any differences as they arise.
"And with that simple approach, we take on this vast ocean that separates us and we
turn into this zone of peace that defines us."