Gillard cuts climate change programs, but not the perks for polluters
`It is remarkable that carbon abatement programs have been singled out while fossil fuel subsidies, such as fringe benefits tax benefits for car use and diesel fuel rebates for miners remain untouched,” The Climate Institute chief executive John Connor said.
Gillard government criticised for slashing funding for green energy projects to pay for flood rebuilding Kerrie Sinclair The Courier-Mail January 27, 2011 THE clean energy industry has criticised the Gillard government for cutting funding for climate change technology to help pay for the flood recovery.
Spending cuts unveiled today by Prime Minister Julia Gillard include $250 million in reduced funding for a program to develop two large-scale solar power plants.
Five of the eight shortlisted solar projects are looking at Queensland sites and several carbon-capture projects are Queensland-based.
John Grimes, chief executive of industry representative body the Australian Solar Energy Society, criticised the cuts to the solar power program as well as cutbacks on the solar hot water rebate and solar homes and communities program.
As Ms Gillard cuts Australia’s clean energy programs, US president Barack Obama on Tuesday said the US will bid to lead the new “clean energy race” currently being won by China by targeting to have 80 per cent of its electricity by 2035 from low-emission sources such as wind, solar, nuclear and clean coal plants.
Mr Obama said he intends to eliminate subsidies for the oil industry and plough those billions into the clean energy sector……..
Climate change research and advocacy group The Climate Institute today said slashing Australia’s investment in utility-scale solar or carbon capture and storage technology was “extremely short-sighted”.
“It is remarkable that carbon abatement programs have been singled out while fossil fuel subsidies, such as fringe benefits tax benefits for car use and diesel fuel rebates for miners remain untouched,” The Climate Institute chief executive John Connor said.
“Climate change is not just about warmer weather, it’s about wilder weather. Whether the recent events are related to recent global warming or not may remain in question, but there is no question more climate extremes are predicted to come and they will increase the cost of living and working in Australia,” he said.
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