Durban outcome welcome but lacks urgency.

Climate Action Monaro (CAM) today welcomed the news that all countries at the climate change talks in Durban have agreed to negotiate a single, legal global binding agreement by 2015.

This 2015 Protocol will come into effect and be implemented from 2020.

"While consolidating international cooperation and taking important steps towards greater action, the decision lacks the urgency and rigour that the situation warrants," says CAM president Ms Jenny Goldie.

"Under current commitments, we are on track for a catastrophic four degee warming with its increasingly severe and unpredictable impacts. It is thus critical that we get significant commitments to reduce emissions by all the major emitters before 2015."

Ms Goldie says Australia must commit to, not 5%, but at least 25% reduction in emissions by 2020.

"The carbon tax was a start, but only a start," she says. "It was gratifying that delegates in Durban warmly congratulated Australia on its initiative and it is indeed a model for other countries to follow. But at the end of the day, Australia has to make a far greater effort to help ensure that global emissions peak within five years.

"Any temperature increases of more than two degrees does not bear contemplating," Ms Goldie says.

Further information:

Jenny Goldie
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