Rann vows to press on with emissions trading

energy

South Australian Premier Mike Rann says the state and territory governments will set up an emissions trading scheme with or without Federal Government support.

At the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, the Prime Minister John Howard refused to set emissions targets or set up a trading scheme.

Mr Rann says Mr Howard's position makes no sense.

"Ideally the Federal Government should be involved, but if the Federal Government doesn't get involved then all of the states and territories will move to legislate in 2008 and then to get a national emissions trading scheme up and running by the end of 2010," he said.

Western Australia's Premier Alan Carpenter also expressed dismay the Prime Minister will not commit to the state's carbon emissions trading proposal, saying the threat of global warming is real.

"I don't think the Federal Government is moving fast enough," he said. "The clock is ticking."

The Prime Minister has defended his decision not to sign up to the scheme.

Mr Howard fears setting a target will have ramifications for the economy.

Instead, he has promised more than $100 million to establish a national centre to help Australians adapt to climate change.

"We think it is very important that the country be advised on the impact on our coastline," he said.

Mr Howard says the Government will inject a further $100 million into the centre over the next five years.

The CSIRO will get $44 million to investigate the science of global warming.

Mr Howard says Australians must understand how climate change will affect them.

"We think it is very important that the country be advised on the impact on our coastline and the impact on the atmosphere and the possible consequences for different sections of the population, the impact on rural Australia," he said.

In other developments:

• Prime Minister John Howard has refused to set targets for carbon emissions when the issue was raised at today's meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). (Full Story)
• Agreement has been reached between the Prime Minister and state and territory leaders on a scheme to tackle diabetes. (Full Story)
• Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin says