Just in case you were believing the lie told often and loudly that we are doing it alone.

​Global action to tackle the climate crisis has taken another important step forwards with South Korea’s legislation overnight to establish an emissions trading scheme similar to Australia’s, the Greens said today.

“When a developing country manufacturing powerhouse like South Korea embraces emissions trading because it respects the climate science, it’s time for the naysayers in Australia to take a good long look at themselves,” Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

“South Korea’s scheme is similar to ours and its international target is about equivalent to 15% cuts from Australia.

“We need to give the space to our independent expert Climate Change Authority to look at moves by South Korea and others, as well as the latest science, in its work to recommend what Australia’s carbon budgets should be.

“That’s why our emissions trading scheme starts with a fixed price, leaving three years for the Climate Change Authority to do its work before we adopt full trading.

“Accelerating global warming is a very real threat to our quality of life, to our economy and to the environment which sustains us. Many of our neighbours are taking ever more serious action to address it. This is not a political game to toss aside if the going gets tough.

“There is no real move to weaken the scheme, but the government should join the Greens in lifting our ambition and talking to the community and business about why tackling the climate crisis is so important and what great opportunities for jobs, investment and innovation come from doing so.”