Christine Milne: Emissions reductions targets and other measures [Motion]
The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, calls on the senate to congratulate the US President for setting emissions reductions targets and adopting other measures designed to address global warming.
Senator MILNE: I move:
That the Senate-
(a) congratulates the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama for the Executive Order requiring the reduction of greenhouse gas pollution by 40 per cent below 2008 levels in 2025 from activities directly undertaken by the Federal Government;
(b) notes that measures such as energy productivity retrofits, directly contracting renewable energy projects, lifting vehicle fuel efficiency standards and increasing ethanol use in defence vehicles not only reduces operating costs and saves taxpayers money, but it boosts domestic economic activity while driving down pollution; and
(c) urges the Federal Government to assess the potential impact that it can directly make through its own activities and procurement policies as it searches for policies that will deliver Australia's post 2020 targets.