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Jun 27, 2009
A decision by the US House of Representatives to pass historic legislation to limit pollution blamed for global warming should help December's climate talks in Copenhagen, the Australian Conservation Foundation says.

American lawmakers voted with a 219-212 margin to support the "American Clean Energy and Security Act", which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020, and 83 per cent by 2050.

Climate lobby groups in Australia have welcomed Friday's vote, but say it's a wake-up call for the nation's political parties to agree to action on climate change.

"The passing of this legislation will give good encouragement for Copenhagen negotiations as it shows that the US is starting to move on climate action," ACF executive director Don Henry said in a statement on Saturday.

"It is a reminder that we need to get cracking and pass good climate laws in Australia; otherwise we will be left behind."

In welcoming the vote, the Climate Institute has called on Australian political parties to refocus over the winter break to ensure the nation's clean energy and emissions trading scheme legislation is "strengthened and passed".

"The Climate Institute calls on the Australian government and other political parties, if they are serious about backing an effective global agreement, to come forward with plans to drive low carbon industrial development here and around the world," a statement from the institute says.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, meanwhile, delivered a speech calling on rich countries to assist those in the developing world to cope with the effects of global climate change.

His speech on Friday was intended to break the political stalemate over a global deal on greenhouse gas emissions.

But while there had been positive action in the UK and the US, action in Australia had stalled, the Climate Institute said.

"This is not only high risk in terms of the climate crisis, this is high risk in missing out on the low carbon economic train that is leaving the station around the world."