PM to now offset Australia’s emissions through forests in developing countries, rather than through non-ETS measures in our own backyard

The Wilderness Society Inc
Media Release
2 December 2009

Emissions trading legislation or not, the Prime Minister will head to Copenhagen seeking to achieve emissions reduction targets through supporting action on forest destruction in developing countries rather than through other available measures in Australia’s own backyard, the Wilderness Society said today.

Spokesperson Virginia Young said there are three key areas that the Prime Minister could act on now that do not rely on an emissions trading system to meet Australia’s greenhouse reduction targets.

“Deep cuts to Australia’s greenhouse emissions are possible now through improved energy efficiency, increased investment in renewable energy and by protecting our native forests and woodlands, which store huge amounts of greenhouse pollution.

“These measures are available now and would not add large extra cost for taxpayers.”

Negotiator for the Wilderness Society at Copenhagen, Peg Putt said Australia has argued all year at international climate change talks for action on forests in developing countries but has not taken action in its own backyard.

The mechanism for action on forests that will be negotiated at Copenhagen is called Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing countries (or REDD).

“Australia’s native forests are among the most carbon dense in the world. If it’s good enough for the Prime Minister to support reducing emissions by preventing destruction of native forests in countries like Indonesia and Brazil, why isn’t it good enough for him to do the same in Australia?” Ms Putt said.

“The best way of reducing forest emissions is to protect them at home and overseas, said Ms Putt.
Negotiations on the REDD mechanism heading into Copenhagen are on a knife-edge and without co-operation at the talks, it is possible that a REDD mechanism will fail to deliver protection of some of the world’s most important old growth forests.

“While 42 countries have pledged to include provisions for protecting intact natural forests in a REDD mechanism, to date not one country, including Australia, has moved to ensure appropriate wording is in the UN negotiating text at Copenhagen,” Ms Putt said.

“If there is not specific agreement to protect native forests, REDD money could subsidise the introduction of logging to previously unlogged forests or even the conversion of native forests to biofuel or wood plantations.”

Leading into the talks at Copenhagen, the world’s leading scientists have outlined to all nations that 14 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions must be cut to prevent dangerous climate change, but so far there are commitments to cut only 8 billion tonnes.

“The goal at Copenhagen is for global action on climate change to stabilise greenhouse pollution in the atmosphere at safe levels. This will not be possible unless there are cuts to emissions from industrial sources as well as protection of the huge carbon stored in the world’s native forests,” Ms Putt said.