Climate Change Skeptic Wins Down Under

Australia's liberal party has just elected a climate change skeptic as its new leader, which could prove to be a challenge to its carbon reduction.

1 minute read

December 2, 2009, 11:00 AM PST

By Alek Miller


"[Newly elected Tony] Abbott has vowed to block the Emissions Trading Scheme in the Senate, where Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Labour Party does not have a majority."

"The ETS, aimed at reducing Australia's carbon emissions by up to 25% below 2000 levels by 2020, is the centrepiece of the government's environmental strategy."

"Mr Rudd's immediate hopes of passing the bill before the Copenhagen summit now rest on the possibility of some opposition lawmakers rebelling and voting with the government."

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 in BBC News

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