Graduate Environmental Program

Australia’s emissions reduction targets have been announced in a White Paper (15 Dec 08), and the target of reducing national emissions by 5% over the next 11 years (with a possibility of deeper cuts to 15% if other nations follow) has attracted considerable surpise and critical commentary. Much deeper cuts were expected of one of the only Western countries with a budget surplus, through fundamental reconfigurations of energy systems, industrial and agricultural production, transport, and domestic efficiency.  The proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme falls far short of what was expected, or what will be needed internationally, in the view of most observers. Prof. Robyn Eckersley of Melbourne University responds in The Age newspaper.