Thursday, August 13, 2009

Australia 86s climate bill

In an unsurprising move, Australian parliament has rejected a bill that has been called "the world's most ambitious emissions trade regime," according to a Reuters story.

"This bill may be going down today, but this is not the end," Climate Change Minister Penny Wong told the Senate.

The Green Party wanted tougher emission standards while the conservatives felt that any action should be delayed until after the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December, which expected to amend the Kyoto Protocol.

The culprit causing the dissension is a program similar to the proposed US cap-and-trade system, wherein pollution producing companies are forces to buy carbon permits which they can sell if they switch to cleaner energy sources.

Australia's is the world's largest coal exporter and 80 of its electricity is generated from coal. The emissions standards could wreak havoc with their economy.

From an environmental standpoint, however, Australia has much to gain from lower emission standards.

"Scientists say Australia, the world's driest continent and prone to drought, faces a rapid rate of climate warming."

But the current bill could possibly see up to 20 percent of their power plants shutting down.

Unless they find something else to produce electricity aside from coal.

The infrastructure conundrum again rears its ugly head, but the planet's health and future relies on planning, cut backs and more green initiatives.

Here's to hoping the Copenhagen conference will settle some disputes and gives countries like Australia viable options.

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