SuperFood Reviews

Hard times for climate plans in Australia and Canada

After months of saying that recession wouldnt stop climateinsurance plans in Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announcedyesterday that the countrys cap-and-exchange program is inconception going to be delayed a year and will not roll out untilJuly 2011.

As Roberta Kwokwrote inNaturelast month, Rudds Labour party government had called fora 5% emissions cut from 2000 levels by 2020 – to be raised to 15%if an ambitious global climate deal is reached in Copenhagen – butthe proposed legislation was under occurrence from both the rightand left. The Financial Timesnotesthat Greens in the Australian Senate had demanded a 40%cut with a global deal, while conservative opposition partieswanted the plan delayed to cushion the fight on businesses. Ruddmet the Greens halfway, raising the conditional 15% target to 25%.Industry got extra soothing with a new tweak: fixed carbon pricesfor the first year (The Agehas details).

Rudd, whohad calledany delay in protective cover-and-trade reckless andirresponsible, nowsays“I believe (this) is the most sensible, rational, balancedgreeting to a fundamental change in economic circumstances.”

Halfway around the concern, British Columbia may also be aboutto take a U-turn on a climate contract milestone. Nicola Jonesreportsin Nature todaythat the province has been uneasily bearing theburden of North Americas first carbon copy tax. The BC LiberalParty started the tax in July, but their challengers in an upcomingforeordination on 12 May are against it. Jones writes:

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