The Australian Greens have welcomed the election of Senator Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.
The leader of the Greens, Senator Bob Brown, said the number of political allies of climate change deniers is dwindling. He said Obama’s election raised world hopes for “a fairer, securer, more ecologically sound future”.
This is the text of a media release from Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens.
Greens from New Zealand and Australia have joined to welcome the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States and are warning climate change deniers that their political allies are dwindling.
Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said in Auckland today “President-elect Barack Obama raises the hopes of the world for a fairer, securer, more ecologically sound future.
“The world’s richest nation is set to enter a new era. Hope for George W. Bush’s replacement will return a greater decency and dignity to the White House. The world faces a rapid countdown to climate change, over consumption and misuse of catastrophic weaponry.
“Obama’s election is a breath of fresh air after perhaps the most important presidency in a century. His biggest challenge will be to end the undemocratic power wielded by an army of lobbyists and vested interests which is camped in Washington,” Senator Brown said.
Green Party New Zealand Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says “We expect to see a wind of change blow through the corridors of power in Washington following the election of Democratic President Barack Obama.
“George Bush effectively blocked moves to take action against climate change, however with a new, more reasonable President in the Oval Office we expect the world will see big steps being taken in this area.
“Those who strive to prevent action being taken on climate change are becoming increasingly isolated.
“First they lost their ally in the Australian political world when John Howard was ousted. Now they can no longer look to the US Government for support with Bush gone and the Republicans no longer at the helm.
“President elect Obama aims to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by mid-century. I look forward to the US playing a role in negotiating a post-Kyoto agreement for international carbon emissions after 2012, and taking steps to reduce its own emissions before that.
“Just a few short years ago, businesses who did not want to take steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions could make excuses and bandy about flawed science. They could point to the US and Australia and say ‘we shouldn’t do anything until those countries do’. This is increasingly difficult for them to do.”
