Greens leader Bob Brown and deputy leader Christine Milne, as well as independent members, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, are hoping for great reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by way of a carbon pollution reduction scheme.
The Greens climate change policy calls for a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, with binding annual targets by 2012 – this target is eight times as tough as the Government. The Greens are also calling for the target of 20 percent of energy from renewables by 2020 to be increased to 30 percent.
Independent MP for New England also supports tougher carbon targets.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Treasurer Wayne Swann and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet; however, seem unconvinced on such drastic measures.
Prime Minister Gillard has stuck by the Former Rudd Government’s commitment to not reintroduce plans for a carbon pollution reduction scheme until at least 2012, and has explicitly ruled out the implementation of a carbon tax.
