🚀 go-pugleaf

## Nachricht vom 11.11.98, erstellt von greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org
## weitergeleitet durch Klaus Merkle
## PMs zum Inhalt bitte an den Ersteller, Brett-Mail ans Gruppenbrett



Australia accused of hypocrisy over oil development

Sydney, November 11, 1998: Australia, along with Canada and the
US, was today singled out as acting hypocritically on the
problem of climate change, at the UN climate conference in
Buenos Aires.

Australia, Canada and the US were accused of  failing to halt
the expansion of fossil fuels by actively encouraging industries
responsible for massive greenhouse gas pollution. This is
contrary to their Kyoto commitments to address global climate
change.

Greenpeace laid the charge at the Australian Government whilst
launching the Carbon Hypocrisy report in Buenos Aires, two days
before Australia's Minister for Environment, Senator Hill, is
due to address the conference.

"Australia, Canada and the US show a clear contradiction between
words and action," said Erwin Jackson, Greenpeace climate
campaigner.

"These countries are pushing for unrestricted use of pollution
trading and tree planting to buy their way out of domestic
action on climate change. At the same time they are licensing,
subsidizing or otherwise supporting the expansion of significant
fossil fuel developments, such as the attempt to develop shale
oil in Queensland."  

The Australian Government, which was allowed to negotiate an 8%
increase in greenhouse gas emissions in Kyoto, has supported the
Stuart Shale Oil Project with tax exemptions worth more than
A$200million. If all Queensland's oil from shale resources are
exploited this could increase national greenhouse gas emissions
by over 20%.  

Canada is allowing a significant expansion of its oil from tar
sands -a similar industry to the proposed Queensland oil shale
development and involving the same company. Official figures
indicate this expansion could add a further 15% to Canada's
overrun of its emissions compared to its Kyoto Protocol
commitments. 

The US announced plans to open previously closed areas of the
Arctic to oil development recently.  This would begin opening up
huge amounts of carbon currently locked in Arctic reserves. 

Visit our webpage http://www.greenpeace.org.au or Greenpeace
International at http://www.greenpeace.org