The Australian government has set an absolute maximum cut to emissions of 15 percent by 2020 - if the world signs an effective climate pact, announced Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday while releasing the government's green house plan.
If no pact is signed, Australia will go with an unconditional 5percent cut in emissions.
By defending the targets as "responsible" course of action, Rudd said he did not want to make promises that cannot be delivered.
"We are starting the scheme with appropriate and responsible targets, targets that are broadly consistent with other developed countries," he told the audience at the National Press Club in Canberra.
These targets fly in the face of calls from scientists for countries to slash their emissions by 25 to 40 percent to avert catastrophic climate change.
The targets deliver necessary reform to tackle climate change while supporting Australia's economy and securing jobs during the global recession, he said.
"Treasury modeling demonstrates that we can deliver on this 5 to 15 percent commitment while maintaining solid economic growth," he said.
The prime minister also pointed out that Treasury modeling indicated Australia could achieve a 5 to 15 percent cut in emissions while maintaining solid economic growth.
The unconditional 5 percent target was equal to a 27 percent reduction in carbon pollution for each Australian from 2000 to 2020, he said.
Source: Xinhua
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