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Coalition vows to lead G20 in new rainforest protection strategy Coalition vows to lead G20 in new rainforest protection strategy
(21 days later)
The Coalition has pledged to lead the G20 in a new global rainforest protection strategy – despite committing itself to taking the unusual step of removing a world heritage listing for parts of Tasmania's forests.The Coalition has pledged to lead the G20 in a new global rainforest protection strategy – despite committing itself to taking the unusual step of removing a world heritage listing for parts of Tasmania's forests.
Greg Hunt, the Coalition's environment spokesman, told Guardian Australia that, if elected, he wanted to help cut by 50% the 8bn tonnes of annual CO2 emissions caused by deforestation.Greg Hunt, the Coalition's environment spokesman, told Guardian Australia that, if elected, he wanted to help cut by 50% the 8bn tonnes of annual CO2 emissions caused by deforestation.
"This won't be something that happens overnight, of course, but it's certainly something to work towards," he said. "We know that the best part of 20% of the world's emissions come come from rainforest destruction."This won't be something that happens overnight, of course, but it's certainly something to work towards," he said. "We know that the best part of 20% of the world's emissions come come from rainforest destruction.
"There has been some progress in slowing this a bit, but there is a willingness in Latin America, central Africa and, in our own region, in Indonesia and Malaysia, to do more.""There has been some progress in slowing this a bit, but there is a willingness in Latin America, central Africa and, in our own region, in Indonesia and Malaysia, to do more."
He added: "Nothing will give you a bigger, faster chance of reducing emissions than to preserve the rainforests. On top of that, the rainforests are the great biological arks of the world. There is a practical way we can make a difference here, if given the chance by being elected."He added: "Nothing will give you a bigger, faster chance of reducing emissions than to preserve the rainforests. On top of that, the rainforests are the great biological arks of the world. There is a practical way we can make a difference here, if given the chance by being elected."
Hunt said he wanted to "build upon" the existing REDD programme, which rewards nations for not clearing rainforest, rather than replace it. He also wants to work with the G4 – China, the US, India and the EU – for a new agreement to cut emissions.Hunt said he wanted to "build upon" the existing REDD programme, which rewards nations for not clearing rainforest, rather than replace it. He also wants to work with the G4 – China, the US, India and the EU – for a new agreement to cut emissions.
But Christine Milne, the leader of the Greens, said Hunt's pledge was "extraordinary" given the Coalition's commitment to remove world heritage listing from part of Tasmania's native forest.But Christine Milne, the leader of the Greens, said Hunt's pledge was "extraordinary" given the Coalition's commitment to remove world heritage listing from part of Tasmania's native forest.
This year the government said it would look to increase the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area by 170,000 hectares, beyond the originally proposed 130,000 hectares. The extension, which was ratified by the UN in June, was agreed between conservationists and loggers as part of the peace deal over the long-running forestry battle in the state.This year the government said it would look to increase the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area by 170,000 hectares, beyond the originally proposed 130,000 hectares. The extension, which was ratified by the UN in June, was agreed between conservationists and loggers as part of the peace deal over the long-running forestry battle in the state.
The Coalition says it would return the world heritage area to the original 130,000 hectares.The Coalition says it would return the world heritage area to the original 130,000 hectares.
"I can't believe the hypocrisy of Greg Hunt and Tony Abbott," Milne told Guardian Australia."I can't believe the hypocrisy of Greg Hunt and Tony Abbott," Milne told Guardian Australia.
"We have Tony Abbott saying that he'd tear up the world heritage listing and make the area available for logging even though these are some of the most carbon-dense forests in the world – giving all this rhetoric around the country about supporting the logging industry and suddenly Greg Hunt is standing up for rainforest recovery. It's a joke."We have Tony Abbott saying that he'd tear up the world heritage listing and make the area available for logging even though these are some of the most carbon-dense forests in the world – giving all this rhetoric around the country about supporting the logging industry and suddenly Greg Hunt is standing up for rainforest recovery. It's a joke.
"Why on earth would the G20 take notice for a moment of an Abbott government led by a climate sceptic who came out last week for a capped fund for reduced emissions that won't get us anywhere near the 5% reduction in emissions? How will they take Australia seriously if we can't look after our own backyard?""Why on earth would the G20 take notice for a moment of an Abbott government led by a climate sceptic who came out last week for a capped fund for reduced emissions that won't get us anywhere near the 5% reduction in emissions? How will they take Australia seriously if we can't look after our own backyard?"
Although in the past Abbott has said the science proving climate change was "crap", he has since moderated his position and now says he believes in the science.Although in the past Abbott has said the science proving climate change was "crap", he has since moderated his position and now says he believes in the science.
Hunt said he was looking to wind back the world heritage listing owing to a lack of consultation with local people.Hunt said he was looking to wind back the world heritage listing owing to a lack of consultation with local people.
"There's an enormous issue there with community consultation," he said. "There will be a net gain in forest coverage in Tasmania, no doubt about that, but the fact is there was no real consultation.""There's an enormous issue there with community consultation," he said. "There will be a net gain in forest coverage in Tasmania, no doubt about that, but the fact is there was no real consultation."
"I had the mayor of New Norfolk tell me that they had been cut out of a decision over their own destiny. They want to do the right thing by the environment, but the community does need to be consulted.""I had the mayor of New Norfolk tell me that they had been cut out of a decision over their own destiny. They want to do the right thing by the environment, but the community does need to be consulted."
Milne said: "This issue has been going on since the 1980s, not the last five minutes. [Liberal senator] Eric Abetz himself has said that almost every tree in the area has a name because of how long the protests have gone on for.Milne said: "This issue has been going on since the 1980s, not the last five minutes. [Liberal senator] Eric Abetz himself has said that almost every tree in the area has a name because of how long the protests have gone on for.
"It's an excuse to say that people haven't been consulted. It's just a way to open up the area to be logged.""It's an excuse to say that people haven't been consulted. It's just a way to open up the area to be logged."
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