02 June 2004 18:29
Fed: Lift renewable energy target, wind industry
CANBERRA, June 2 AAP - Australia should increase renewable energy targets following Russian moves towards ratifying
the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, the wind energy industry said today. Australia is avoiding percentage-based
targets for the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), instead aiming to source an extra 9,500 gigawatt hours
annually from renewable energy by 2010. The Australian government has also declined to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
"Serious pressure is mounting on the Australian government to increase its climate protection measures as it
continues to refuse ratifying the protocol," AusWEA chief executive Libby Anthony said today. "While
short-term measures are welcome, we also need to see longer-term structural changes to the way we generate energy, such
as an increase in the MRET." The AusWEA questioned the government's green war chest, as reported last week, as
a long-term response to climate change. "The Russian government's recent decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol
will see this critical global climate initiative brought into force in the near future," Ms Anthony said in a
statement. Ms Anthony said Russia's move gave the Australian government a window of opportunity to raise MRET and
ensure long-term greenhouse gas reductions for this country. AAP dep/sb
[AAP News] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
