Australian plan not enough, says influential minister
19 Dec 2008
South Africa, emerging as one of the most influential developing nations in climate change negotiations, has rejected the Australian Government's emissions package as an inadequate "opening bid", and warns that unless it is strengthened developing countries will refuse to sign a global climate package.
Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in London yesterday that the Rudd Government had not gone far enough when it promised this week to cut Australia's carbon emissions to 5 per cent below their 2000 level by 2020, with the possibility of 15 per cent cuts if the rest of the world signed up to a global pact.
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