Who's The Greenest?

There is now to be two inquires into emissions trading after the Greens and the opposition struck a deal to probe the government's climate change policies. The government has been under pressure from industry (no surprises there) and environmentalists to delay 2010 start date or to make changes to the proposed ETS.

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The White Paper released in December detailed a cap-and-trade scheme to meet 2020 emissions reduction target of 5-15 per cent, yet granting up to 90 per cent free pollution

permits for export industries and transitional compensation for electricity generators. The "Greens" have rejected calls from industry and the coalition to delay implementing the ETS.

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Many Australians chose to pay extra for renewable green electricity, now its said it won't make a difference. Under the proposed Carbon Pollution reduction scheme (sham) (CPRS) due to be introduced in Federal Parliament, voluntary action by consumers to purchase green power, would make it cheaper and easier for industries to pollute. So how can the People win, or do the right thing for the planet?

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Under the proposed scheme, Australia's biggest polluting businesses are required to achieve a certain emissions reductions target. Households buy accredited Green Power or domestic carbon offsets, which simply helps make it cheaper for business to achieve what they are required to do. We have been conned for the sake of industry which doesn't sit well, were trying to do the right thing at considerable cost which many can ill afford at this time.

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The CPRS undermines consumer choice . Carbon Pollution avoided as a result of VOLUNTARY consumer action should be counted as additional to the mandatory emissions reductions required of polluting industries. more than 878,000 households have chosen to pay more for renewable energy nation-wide. According to retailer Synergy approximately 7500 WA homes had signed up by last December, what a slap in the face.