Fed: Carbon trading futile without China, the US - Costello

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2007
Fed: Carbon trading futile without China, the US - Costello

MELBOURNE, April 20 AAP - Human activity is contributing to climate change but programs
like emissions trading are futile unless big polluters such as China and the US are on
board, Treasurer Peter Costello says.

The government is waiting on a report into the benefits of joining a carbon trading
scheme but would seek assurances that the rest of the world also was moving forward on
the issue, the federal treasurer told ABC Radio.

"Over a long period of time, let's say 50 years or 100 years, there is evidence that
the climate is changing and there is scientific evidence that over the next hundred it
will probably change by a degree or two as well," Mr Costello said.

"There are some that say there isn't enough evidence (to say global warming is caused
by human activity), you're talking about 100 years, you're talking about a degree or two.

"But the international scientific opinion is near unanimous, not quite unanimous, and
I agree with the international scientific opinion.

"You've got two issues here - you've got the immediate drought, which is a crisis and
is upon us, you then have the long term changes of global warming, which is a 50 year
and 100 year change. I think you've got to separate the two."

But Mr Costello cautioned against rushing into solutions like emissions trading if
countries like China, India and the US did not sign up.

"If Australia were to close all of its power today, every power station, every traffic
light in Australia, then in nine months time, China would have added all of the electricity
that Australia adds on an annual basis ... the globe will be in exactly the same position,"

he said.

"The point I'm making is we have to work to bring emitters like China, the US, India,
those countries that really do matter in relation to global warming into the system, otherwise
it's a futile activity.

"Having said all that if there are global moves towards emissions trading, then Australia
can and should be part of the activity, we should be in there influencing the agenda."

AAP sjm/ce/cp/bwl

KEYWORD: CLIMATE COSTELLO

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