Howard bullies Pacific nations on greenhouse
By Norm Dixon
Prime Minister John Howard, leading the Australian delegation to the South Pacific Forum meeting in the Cook Islands, found himself completely isolated over his government's refusal to agree to targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
During talks on September 19, Howard was the odd man out amongst 15 other Pacific leaders when he refused to accept the draft forum communiqué because it called for legally binding targets.
Nevertheless, under the pressure of Australia's economic weight in the region — Howard made statements at the forum implying that the $450 million in Australian aid to Pacific countries would be jeopardised if the region continued to stand its ground — the next day the Pacific leaders reluctantly signed a communiqué which does not include binding targets.
Pacific countries are supporting the European Union's call for all OECD countries to agree to a 15% reduction on 1990 emission levels by 2010, as part of an agreement to be signed in Kyoto, Japan, in December.
The Australian government is refusing to commit to a reduction because it claims it would "cost jobs". Australia, it argues, is a "special case" due to its supposed dependence on fossil fuels. Yet a recent study by 131 Australian economists found that Australia's greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced without harming the economy.
The Pacific island countries point out that scientists predict many low-lying areas will be under water if sea levels continue to rise as a result of global warming, including Pacific countries such as the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Howard's stand came under bitter attack from Pacific leaders and environmental groups. The Cook Islands' prime minister, Sir Geoffrey Henry, condemned Australia for reducing efforts to control the greenhouse effect to a choice between "Australian jobs and homes in the Pacific".
Other Pacific leaders predicted that Australia would face Pacific-wide opposition reminiscent of the reaction to France's nuclear testing at Moruroa.
"Many South Pacific Forum countries are fighting for their very survival due to global warming", said Australian Conservation Foundation director Jim Downey. "Will the prime minister commit Australia to accepting environmental refugees from the Marshall Islands and other Pacific nations, created in part by Australia's inaction on climate change?"
Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown said that Howard "is doing more damage to Australia's international reputation than Pauline Hanson. The prime minister is saying to the 15 other South Pacific countries, 'I reject world scientific opinion, I reject the job creating alternatives in the renewable energy sector and you can take the consequences' ...
"The floral crown around Howard's head conjured up images of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. [The government] is toadying to the coal mining companies who annually fill the election coffers of the Coalition parties."
Democratic Socialist foreign affairs spokesperson Max Lane accused the Australian government of "colonial arrogance". "Howard exposed his government's racist and bullying politics when he bludgeoned the South Pacific Forum into accepting his government's reactionary stand on greenhouse gas emission targets.
"The most obnoxious features of colonial arrogance and racism are alive and well in Canberra today, despite official protestations of anti-racism. The government's recent white paper on foreign affairs reaffirms the government's support for corporate exploitation of the Asia-Pacific region and collaboration with other exploiter countries (like the US) at the expense of the social and environmental needs of the people. At the South Pacific Forum, we saw this approach put into action", Lane said.