Garnaut didn’t mention the f word

The Wilderness Society Inc
Media Release
5th September 2008

Garnaut has not only taken the soft option with the announcement of a 10% by 2020 target but has totally overlooked the role that native forests and other natural ecosystems can play in combating dangerous climate change, the Wilderness Society said today.

Australians and the natural environment that sustains us all will pay a high price if this approach is adopted.

“This is a deeply alarming and disappointing announcement from Professor Garnaut,” said Virginia Young, National Strategic Campaigns Coordinator at the Wilderness Society.

“He has completely overlooked the vital role native forests can play in providing immediate cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

This is surprising considering that recent ANU research has revealed that native forests can store on average 3 times more carbon than previously thought.

“We have a number of inexpensive options for tackling climate change right now. There is no need to put all our eggs in the Emissions Trading basket nor to wait until 2012 before taking action.

Governments need to spend some of our budget surplus to increase renewable energy and efficiency programmes; to immediately end emissions from clearing native vegetation and to rapidly phase out native forest logging. Such a path would immediately avoid millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere each year and enable Australia to pull millions of extra tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere  each year for decades or centuries. There is simply no excuse for not acting now.

“Australia should be taking decisive action to increase protection for its extensive existing carbon stocks in natural systems such as our native forests, tropical savannas and temperate woodlands, and encourage restoration of the natural carbon carrying capacity of all native vegetation.

What we are now seeing is a widening gap between Australia’s commitment to action and the leading scientific research on the pace of global warming.

“A 10% by 2020 target is internationally humiliating.”