Kyoto protocol means WA headache

WA WILL be hard hit by the Federal governments efforts to meet the the Kyoto Protocol says Department of Resource Development assistant director Ian Briggs.

He said Australia was faced with a massive task to ensure environmental objectives were met while economic development was maintained.

Mr Briggs was addressing an audience at the recent South West Focus 2000 conference.

“Of great concern to WA is the ongoing growth of its energy-intensive resource development, protecting its existing industries and protecting Australia’s international competitiveness,” he said.

Australia has agreed, under the Kyoto Protocol, not to increase greenhouse emissions between 2008 and 2012 by more than 8 per cent above the levels emitted in 1990.

While Australia received a favourable outcome at the meeting in Kyoto in December 1997, Mr Briggs said it will still be a difficult task to achieve.