democracy Zimbabwe

Australia will set up a A$100 million (US$80 mln) carbon capture research institute aimed at fighting climate shift and with ambitions of becoming the world hub for the technology, the government said on Friday.

CANBERRA - The Australian government is seeking to introduce one of the world's most inclusive carbon trading schemes by 2010 but needs the support of big business, which fears emissions trading will make them less competitive.

Energy Minister Martin Ferguson met more than 70 large firms at parliament on Friday to talk over their concerns.
Left-leaning Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made tackling climate change and rising carbon emissions a top priority of his government.

The Australian government would be open to negotiations with big business over plans for carbon trading, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Wednesday, after industry complaints about government proposals.

But Rudd warned business that carbon trading, needed to help Australia cut its greenhouse gas emissions, could not be done without some cost on industry.
"It will never happen cost free. It is not a cost-free business," Rudd told the National Press Club on Wednesday.

A LEADING brewer's attempts to cash in on demand for green products has landed it in hot water after marketing claims that its beer is better for the environment were challenged.
The competition watchdog has been asked to investigate ads calling Cooper's Australia's greenest beer and encouraging drinkers to walk to the pub to save greenhouse gas emissions.

The Rudd Government's Green Paper on carbon trading uses adjectives like "smoother", "gradual", and "measured" to describe the scheme's implementation because cutting Australia's emissions by 60 per cent in four decades is going to produce profound structural change, and, inevitably, political repercussions. Like a dentist poised above you, drill in hand, the Government wants to warn us that the process will be difficult, and reassure us that it will no more painful than absolutely necessary.