From ABC Online
Australia has been told it must commit to a 25 per cent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 if it is to be taken seriously by other members of the Kyoto club.
That is the message from a key member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr Bill Hare, who is currently in Australia.
Dr Hare is currently helping the United Nations set up the next climate agreement for when the Kyoto Protocol winds up in 2012.
He met with economist Ross Garnaut, who is advising the Federal Government on the costs of climate change.
Dr Hare says Professor Garnaut’s recommendation for a 90 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 is good, but short-term targets are also crucial.
"I think the level of ambition is in the right range," he said.
"What’s missing and I think will come in the final report are reductions targets for 2020".
Dr Hare says Australia must deliver on its Bali commitment and explain how it can help cut global emissions by 40 per cent over the next decade.
"For Australia to start making a contribution and to start setting an agenda which the Rudd Government wants to do, then it needs to have a very serious proposal for what it is prepared to do and what it thinks the rest of the world should be doing to prevent dangerous climate change," he said.
See related article at Climate Friendly