Media Release
2 December, 2009
PM to now offset Australia’s emissions through forests in developing countries,
rather than through non-ETS measures in our own backyard
Emissions trading legislation or not, the Prime Minister will head to Copenhagen seeking to achieve
emissions reduction targets through supporting action on forest destruction in developing countries
rather than through other available measures in Australia’s own backyard, The Wilderness Society said
today.
Spokesperson Virginia Young said there are three key areas that the Prime Minister could act on now
that do not rely on an emissions trading system to meet Australia’s greenhouse reduction targets.
“Deep cuts to Australia’s greenhouse emissions are possible now through improved energy efficiency,
increased investment in renewable energy and by protecting our native forests and woodlands, which
store huge amounts of greenhouse pollution.
“These measures are available now and would not add large extra cost for taxpayers.”
Negotiator for The Wilderness Society at Copenhagen, Peg Putt said Australia has argued all year at
international climate change talks for action on forests in developing countries but has not taken action
in its own backyard.
The mechanism for action on forests that will be negotiated at Copenhagen is called Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing countries (or REDD).
“Australia’s native forests are among the most carbon dense in the world. If it’s good enough for the
Prime Minister to support reducing emissions by preventing destruction of native forests in countries
like Indonesia and Brazil, why isn’t it good enough for him to do the same in Australia?” Ms Putt said.
“The best way of reducing forest emissions is to protect them at home and overseas, said Ms Putt.
Negotiations on the REDD mechanism heading into Copenhagen are on a knife-edge and without co-
operation at the talks, it is possible that a REDD mechanism will fail to deliver protection of some of the
world’s most important old growth forests.
“While 42 countries have pledged to include provisions for protecting intact natural forests in a REDD
mechanism, to date not one country, including Australia, has moved to ensure appropriate wording is in
the UN negotiating text at Copenhagen,” Ms Putt said.
“If there is not specific agreement to protect native forests, REDD money could subsidise the
introduction of logging to previously unlogged forests or even the conversion of native forests to biofuel
or wood plantations.”
Leading into the talks at Copenhagen, the world’s leading scientists have outlined to all nations that 14
billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions must be cut to prevent dangerous climate change, but so far
there are commitments to cut only 8 billion tonnes.
“The goal at Copenhagen is for global action on climate change to stabilise greenhouse pollution in the
atmosphere at safe levels. This will not be possible unless there are cuts to emissions from industrial
sources as well as protection of the huge carbon stored in the world’s native forests,” Ms Putt said.
Media enquiries: Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656, or Peg Putt, 0418 127 580.
NEWS 
