The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory (ECNT) says the latest wake up call on global warming – the Stern report released overnight in London – must be heeded by the NT and Commonwealth governments, as well as industry and the wider community.

ECNT Coordinator Peter Robertson said it is time for all governments to redirect their priorities and subsidies away from fossil fuels - and nuclear - and onto a national strategic program of renewable energy and energy efficiency, coupled with a carbon tax and mandatory emission reduction targets.

“Around Australia, emissions from energy production and transport are rising rapidly. Since 1990 Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions in the areas of stationary energy (mostly coal-fired power generation) and transport have increased by a massive 34% and 28% respectively. And what are the projections? By 2020, energy emissions up by 70% and total emissions up by a disastrous 25% (Source: Commonwealth Government Greenhouse Office 2005).

“Here in the Territory our greenhouse pollution emissions continue to rise every year, increasingly driven by gas-based industrialisation. Since 1990 our emissions have almost doubled and are projected to go on rising rapidly (Source: EPA NT 2006).

“Meanwhile, the Northern Territory has been identified as one of the best areas in Australia, and the world, for solar energy production but languishes far behind other less optimal parts of Australia, and the world, in solar energy uptake.

“17% of Australia’s greenhouse emissions come from household energy use, so a program of REALLY encouraging people to switch to ‘grid-interactive’ solar power, together with a program of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for all appliances and buildings, would dramatically reduce emissions.

“All around the world, and here in the NT, there are enormous opportunities for reducing emissions, growing sustainable export industries and creating ‘green’ jobs – using existing clean and affordable technologies.

“But our governments – blinded by coal, gas and uranium exports - remain obsessed with the most dirty, dangerous, and expensive energy sources (fossil fuels and nuclear), and expensive, unproven emission-reduction technologies, especially carbon geo-sequestration (a.k.a. ‘clean coal’). It is time the power of these industries was challenged and we entered a new era of responsible and sustainable development."

Further comment: Peter Robertson – 8981 1984 / 0409 089 020