Senate debates

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Global Carbon Budget

4:02 pm

Photo of Christine MilneChristine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes that:
(i)
the global carbon budget to give us a 75 per cent chance of constraining global warming to less than 2oC has been identified as in the order of 1 000 gigatonnes between 2000 and 2050, of which some 30 per cent has already been emitted, and
(ii)
there are various ways of sharing the task of meeting that global budget, depending on your view of equity; and
(b)
calls on the Government to set out the principles which underpin the negotiating position on burden sharing it will take to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Cancun that begins in the week beginning 28 November 2010.

Question put.

4:07 pm

Photo of Nick XenophonNick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | | Hansard source

Before I go to notice of motion No. 140, I seek leave to make a short statement on general business notice of motion No. 137, which we voted on and was about the production of documents.

Photo of Alan FergusonAlan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Photo of Nick XenophonNick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | | Hansard source

There were a number of reasons that I was not able to support this motion under the names of Senators Birmingham and Cormann. The main reason was that information in the report could be market sensitive if it were to be released before 29 November, the date on which the ACCC will hand down its determinations on the NBN Co.’s business case and points of access. I will be pleased to revisit this in the new year if Senators Cormann and Birmingham are so minded.