Ambrose wants to join 'coal pact'

Today Environment Minster Rona Ambrose talked about supporting the US-led Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Environment. (See the CP story.) According to the CP article, this is "a loose agreement involving the United States, Australia, India, Japan, China and South Korea. It is not legally binding and does not set caps on carbon emissions."

Here's the low-down on this 'pact' by Grist magazine. I particularly like this quote from James Connaughton (head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality):

"[W]hat we're trying to do is create a framework in which we can define more effectively and on a faster timescale real programs of action that will deliver real investments and real places. ... Hopefully, we'll get a convergence of some of these broader rhetorical commitments into a program of concrete action."

Wow - I feel much better about our chances of saving the planet now!

According to the Grist article, Bob Brown, head of Australia's Green Party has labeled the agreement "a "coal pact," noting that Australia isn't the only big coal producer at the table. China, the U.S., and India are also top producers of this hot commodity, and aren't anxious to phase it out anytime soon."

However, Ms. Ambrose also said that we won't be joining any more partnerships until we clean up our own backyard. I hope that the Tory plan for doing this is a little more concrete than this 'pact' seems to be!