What is amusing is the term "Australia will remain a good international citizen". Australia's track record suggests that it was unlikely to qualify as good in the first place, hence making the term "remain" largely redundant.
Moreover, to write "Australia's efforts on greenhouse gases will be conditioned by "fiscal circumstances"" provides a get out clause for pretty much anything and everything.
I suspect other developed countries are not far behind and are all thinking the same thing.
Australia Rejects New Climate Taxes,Contributions Or Charges At UN Climate Summit
The Australian, 11 November 2013
Greg Sheridan
The federal cabinet has ruled that Australia will not sign up to any new contributions, taxes or charges at this week's global summit on climate change, in a significant toughening of its stance as it plans to move within days to repeal the carbon tax.
Cabinet ministers have decided to reject any measures of "socialism masquerading as environmentalism" after meeting last week to consider a submission on the position the government would take to the Warsaw conference.
A further document was produced after the meeting that outlines the government's position.
The Australian has seen part of the document and it declares that, while Australia will remain "a good international citizen" and remains "committed to achieving the 5 per cent reduction" by 2020 of the 2000 levels of emissions, it will not sign up to any new agreement that involves spending money or levying taxes.
This rules out Australia playing any role in a wealth transfer from rich countries to developing nations to pay them to decrease their carbon emissions.
The decision hardens the nation's approach to the UN's negotiations amid a renewed push from less-developed countries this week for $100 billion a year in finance to deal with climate change.
Cabinet decided that Australia would consider joining a new scheme after 2015, but only if all the major global economies did likewise.
Senior ministers believe there is absolutely no chance of that happening.
The Abbott government has explicitly decided that it will not agree to any payments or accept any liabilities as part of any carbon agreement.
The government's document also says that Australia "will not support any measures which are socialism masquerading as environmentalism".
The document's commitment that the government "will review its commitment in 2015 in light of the science and international developments" deliberately allows a range of policy outcomes.
In the unlikely event that all major economies move in a concerted way, Australia could join in. However, the language provides that if the science becomes more unclear, and if nations move away from their earlier enthusiasm for action, then Australia also could wind back its efforts.
This explicitly does not mean winding back on the 5 per cent reduction target for 2020, but does mean that after 2020 things are less clear.
The government's document also says Australia's efforts on greenhouse gases will be conditioned by "fiscal circumstances". [...]
Mr Abbott has been strongly critical of agreements in which Australian funds are used to buy permits that are meant to fund cuts to greenhouse gas reductions in other countries - a key mechanism in the global talks.
The Coalition based its criticism of Labor policy on official forecasts showing Australian emissions would rise over time and that the 5 per cent target was only reached by purchasing overseas permits at an eventual cost of $150bn a year in 2050.
"This is by far the biggest wealth transfer from Australians to foreigners that's ever been contemplated," Mr Abbott said of purchasing offshore carbon permits.
By formalising these concerns in official policy, federal cabinet is preparing to counter any move at the Warsaw talks to accelerate climate change financing deals meant to be worth $100bn a year.
On a per-capita basis, Australia's contribution to the $100bn in global climate change finance would be $2.4bn or more.
Climate tax, aid and fees off table as cabinet toughens stance
- The Australian
- November 11, 2013
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FEDERAL cabinet has ruled that Australia will not sign up to
any new contributions, taxes or charges at this week's global summit on
climate change, in a significant toughening of its stance as it plans to
move within days to repeal the carbon tax.
Cabinet ministers have decided to reject any measures of
"socialism masquerading as environmentalism" after meeting last week to
consider a submission on the position the government would take to the
Warsaw conference.
FEDERAL
cabinet has ruled that Australia will not sign up to any new
contributions, taxes or charges at this week's global summit on climate
change, in a significant toughening of its stance as it plans to move
within days to repeal the carbon tax.
Cabinet ministers have decided to reject any measures of
"socialism masquerading as environmentalism" after meeting last week to
consider a submission on the position the government would take to the
Warsaw conference.- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/climate-tax-aid-and-fees-off-table-as-cabinet-toughens-stance/story-e6frg6xf-1226756955449#sthash.EbUSvDC1.dpuf
Climate tax, aid and fees off table as cabinet toughens stance
- The Australian
- November 11, 2013
Share
Your Friends' Activity
NEW!
Discover news with your friends. Give it a try.
To get going, simply connect with your favourite social network:
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Facebook
FEDERAL cabinet has ruled that Australia will not sign up to
any new contributions, taxes or charges at this week's global summit on
climate change, in a significant toughening of its stance as it plans to
move within days to repeal the carbon tax.
Cabinet ministers have decided to reject any measures of
"socialism masquerading as environmentalism" after meeting last week to
consider a submission on the position the government would take to the
Warsaw conference.
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