Lawyers seek emissions cut

The Age, 12/12/2008

A group of leading Australian lawyers will today send an open letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calling for a commitment to a 40pc cut in carbon emissions by 2020, in a bid to uphold our human rights record.

The group of 20, including five senior counsel such as former Liberty Victoria president Brian Walters, have signed the letter.

It states that the rights of many — including Pacific Islanders whose homes are under threat from the effects of climate change — must be considered in setting an emissions reduction target.

In contrast, Australia is expected to press ahead using a scheme with targets to reduce emissions by between 5pc and 25pc.

The actual figure will depend on whether the world achieves a new, comprehensive post-Kyoto agreement.

Australia is expected announce its emissions targets in the much-awaited white paper to be released on Monday.