Greens, Coalition agree on CPRS Senate Inquiry

The CPRS Senate Inquiry, to be conducted by a new Senate Select Committee on Climate Policy and reporting back on May 14, will examine the choice of emissions trading as a mechanism, the relative contributions of complementary measures to emissions reductions, the environmental effectiveness of the proposed targets and whether the scheme would appropriately transform the economy.

The committee is to consist of 10 senators, four nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, four nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, one nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens and one nominated by the independent senators.

"The Senate will now have an opportunity to properly examine the critical issues that surround the government's emissions trading plans," said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.

"Climate change is not like so many other issues which can be negotiated and compromised when they come before the Parliament. You cannot negotiate with the laws of physics and chemistry.

"Either Australia chooses to work towards a target that is scientifically valid and will help avoid climate catastrophe, or we choose to put ourselves at unacceptable risk.

"Australia's climate scientists have been remarkably reticent to publicly criticise what they have in private slammed as a totally unacceptable and inadequate target.

"As the scientists well know, there is such a thing as being too late. Now is the time for them to come before the Senate and explain what a scientifically adequate target would be for Australia.

"The Greens' reading of the science tells us that Australia needs to work fast to build a net zero emissions economy, and certainly no later than 2050, with cuts of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.

"We believe that, if we aim for that transformation, we can achieve it, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs along the way. If we do not try, we have no chance of success."