Media Release - 1 March 2002

Greenhouse Accounting CRC supports strong scientific partnership with USA

Australia's leading carbon sink research centre, the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting, today welcomed the re-endorsement by the Minister for Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, of Australia's need to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Our Kyoto targets are an important step in this process.

“Good science in the area of greenhouse accounting is necessary for governments and communities to be confident that action taken is effective” said Prof Ian Noble, CEO. “Without credible science from all nations, there is no prospect for monitoring of compliance or trading in CO2 to reduce costs”.

Scientific cooperation between Australia and the USA to uncover options for reducing and accounting for greenhouse emissions would be part of a fully-fledged international approach and the eventual achievement by all nations of the significant reductions necessary to minimise climate change.

“Australia’s Greenhouse Accounting CRC is an international leader in the science of carbon sinks" added Prof Noble, "so we look forward to playing a major role in developing a comprehensive, accurate greenhouse gas accounting system”.

Storing carbon in plants, trees and soils can play a significant role in reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and at the same time contribute to other land management goals such as productivity and biodiversity values.

Australia’s expertise in the management and accounting of sinks is particularly appropriate for many developing countries. Australia can contribute to the setting of ground rules for trading systems that encourage the further involvement of developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The CRC for Greenhouse Accounting is a national organisation with its head office at the Australian National University. It was established in 1999, under the innovative CRC Program administered by the Commonwealth, and is one of 64 CRC's that research a wide array of critical scientific and technological issues.

Interviews: Prof Ian Noble, CEO, CRC for Greenhouse Accounting and Convening Lead Author IPCC

Media Liaison: Rowena Mueller, CRC for Greenhouse Accounting