STATEMENT BY SENATOR CAMPBELL ON G8 CLIMATE STATEMENT

09/07/2005 - The Australian Government recognises climate change as a very serious problem and therefore welcomes the high priority placed on this issue by G8 countries - who collectively account for almost 50 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The overall thrust of the G8 communique and the Gleneagles Plan of Action, particularly the focus on energy efficiency and the development and deployment of lower-emitting energy technologies, is entirely consistent with the Australian Government’s $1.8 billion climate change strategy.

The Australian Government is strongly committed to the development of an effective global response to climate change that involves all major emitters. We therefore welcome the establishment of the Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development as an important contribution to this process.

Australia looks forward to playing an active part in this Dialogue.

The G8 reaffirms a strong commitment to the UN Framework Convention on climate change as the key international forum to address this important issue.