Emissions Trading Scheme - Green Spin. Environment is ‘collateral damage’ - 16 July 2008

Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen fears that ETS participants will reap the economic benefits for reducing CO2 emissions without guaranteeing permanence and without monitoring potentially adverse impacts on the NSW environment.

“The Green Paper is so heavy on spin that it appears as though the environment is just ‘collateral damage’”, said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“The people of NSW have contributed $100 million to the commercial development of Clean Coal technology including Carbon Capture and Storage (“CCS”) and an ETS will further shower the industry with the economic rewards of CO2 emission reductions.

“The problem is that in the event of large-scale CO2 leakage, it is the citizens to which liability for the ensuing environmental catastrophe will fall. The public carry all the risk and the energy producers take all the rewards.

“Tree plantations will receive carbon credits, but land clearing and logging will remain outside the scheme. The Federal Government have failed to recognise that the deep cuts necessary to stop dangerous climate change can only be achieved if the role of forests is properly measured and the value of native forests recognized.

“Native forests left standing are carbon in the bank. Forest owners should be getting some sort of recognition by the scheme for their carbon storage service.

“Here’s our biggest opportunity to establish 21st century conservation forestry and the Feds have blown it by leaving forestry out in their Green Paper.

“The petrol result is equally disappointing. The ‘two step’ they’ve pulled with petrol being included but with the excise being reduced is evidence that after less than a year in office, they’re learning from their NSW ALP cousins how to put public relations ahead of policy.

“On climate policy, the Federal Government is taking a leaf out of the NSW Government’s ‘triumph of spin over substance’ book,” said Mr Cohen.