Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has revealed details of the Government's timetable for an emissions trading scheme.

Senator Wong says a green paper looking at the design of the scheme will be released in July and businesses will be invited to have their say.

She says she expects the scheme will be up and running by 2010.

"Emissions trading is one of the most far-reaching and significant reforms that this country will undertake and it is at the heart of this Government's commitment to tackle climate change," she said.

"Because it's so important, the Rudd Government will take a careful and methodical approach to designing emissions trading."


Source: www.abc.net.au/

Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, Australia.
Emissions from energy conversion and fugitive emissions have been allocated to end-use sectors.

Source: ABARE energy data; ABS data; Wilkenfeld and Associates (1998); Bush et al. (1999)

Increased transport use is also contributing to increased traffic congestion and environmental noise, accentuated by trends such as increased residential density and more evening activities. One in 10 dwellings in Australia's cities experience levels of road traffic noise over an 18-hour period, which exceeds recommended levels. This is occurring when workplace noise is decreasing because of the changing structure of Australian industry and improved occupational health and safety practices.

The extent of public transport use remains stagnant. Improved public transport could help to reduce private transport use. The level of public transport use depends on effective urban form and design as well as factors such as relative cost and convenience.

Vehicle fuel efficiency is improving, as is the level of emissions as a result of new government standards. New public infrastructure, such as motorways and highways, may have helped to reduce emissions. Improved motorways and highways are likely to increase usage, but whether these improvements will outweigh the increase in fuel efficiency is debatable.

Positive developments have been more than offset by increased use, particularly of larger four-wheel drive vehicles, the ageing motor vehicle fleet and freight transport. Although the transport contribution to greenhouse gas emissions has increased, lead and carbon monoxide emissions are declining as a result of phasing out of leaded fuel and the introduction of higher emission standards for motor vehicles (see the Atmosphere theme report).

Source: www.environment.gov.au/

Australian News Submitted by Midori 17/03/2008 1

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