Australian High Commission
Canada
Address: Suite 710, 50 O'Connor Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2 - Tel: 613-236-0841 - Fax: 613-236-4376

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
OTTAWA

MEDIA RELEASE

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DELAYS INTRODUCTION OF NATIONAL EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME

28 April 2010

The Australian Government has announced that the introduction of its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) will be delayed until after 2012.

In remarks made on 27 April by Prime Minister Rudd, he noted that the CPRS would not be introduced until there is greater clarity on the actions of other major economies, including the US, China and India. Provided there is greater clarity, the Government will seek to pass legislation for the CPRS in 2013.

In the short term, the Government’s action on climate change will be focussed on boosting investments in clean and renewable energy and in supporting greater energy efficiency measures.

Australia remains on track to meet its greenhouse gas targets under the Kyoto Protocol, and the Government remains committed to Australia’s target of reducing emissions to 25 per cent below the 2000 baseline by 2020, if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal.

If such a global deal is not possible, Australia will nevertheless unconditionally reduce emissions to 5 per cent below the 2000 baseline by 2020.