Enough said!

The inaugural meeting of the six-nation Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6) was held in Sydney on 12 January 2006. It was attended by Australia, USA, China, Japan, India and South Korea. These countries contribute to around 50% of world greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the outcomes of the AP6 is the commitment by the Australian Government of $100 million over five years to develop environmentally friendly products to reduce greenhouse pollution levels. I'm pleased that the Federal Government has committed the money, after all, they could have done nothing!

BUT, I stand by my previous comments that we should sign the Kyoto Protocol and not continue down the energy-from-coal path. It would have shown more foresight if the $100M was invested in alternative energy research and development.

I can't help feeling that the funds put forward by Australia and the USA are not much more than a political statement aimed at making the governments appear to give a toss about the environment. Others seem to agree. How much has been spent in Iraq? Enough said ...

Related links:
Canberra, US commit $170m to aid climate - The Age
PM pledges $100m to help climate - SMH
Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate - Wikipedia