Vic: Vic carbon cuts no help to national targets, report says
23 Mar 2009 1:42 AM
A confidential ministerial brief says the Victorian government's policies to cut carbon emissions will make no difference in achieving national greenhouse targets.
The leaked brief .. obtained by The Age newspaper .. says the government must rethink policies .. including subsidising solar farms and buying hybrid cars for its fleet .. because they won't assist in meeting targets in the proposed federal Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
The newspaper reports the brief says the government should pursue greenhouse measures only if they're more cost effective than alternatives.
Critics .. including the federal opposition, the Australian Consumers Association and the Australia Institute .. say voluntary initiatives such as buying green power .. installing solar panels .. and public transport use .. won't add greatly to emissions savings under federal greenhouse targets .. a five to 15 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.
AAP RTV jrd/psm/
