2010/11/24

Fwd: Rio, Woolworths, Qantas Chiefs Meet on Australian Climate Plan

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Rio, Woolworths, Qantas Chiefs Meet on Australian Climate Plan
2010-11-25 04:12:58.754 GMT


By Gemma Daley
Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Rio Tinto Group, Woolworths Ltd. and
Qantas Airways Ltd. chiefs will meet in Canberra tomorrow to
discuss the best way for Australia to manage climate change.
Nineteen executives from companies with A$225 billion ($220
billion) in revenue and employing 380,000 Australians will
discuss how to reduce emissions while at the same time
delivering economic growth and creating jobs, Treasurer Wayne
Swan and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said in a statement.
"Business leaders will be at the front line of managing
this transformation to a low carbon economy," the ministers
said, adding that the Business Roundtable on Climate Change will
meet regularly until the end of 2011.
Australia, where coal accounts for more than 80 percent of
power production, is trying to establish a price for carbon
emissions. A separate Multi-Party Climate Change Committee,
which includes Labor and non-party lawmakers, is looking at
options including an emissions trading plan, a tax on pollution
and setting renewable energy targets by using more wind or solar
power.
The business roundtable includes National Australia Bank
Ltd. Chief Executive officer Cameron Clyne, BHP Billiton Ltd.
metallurgical coal president Hubie van Dalsen, Rio's managing
director for Australia David Peever, AGL Energy Ltd. Chief
Executive Officer Michael Fraser, Qantas Chief Executive Officer
Alan Joyce, Woolworth's Chief Executive Officer Michael Luscombe
and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Don Voelte.

For Related News and Information:
Bloomberg New Energy Finance Carbon Model: CARX <GO>
Emissions Market Monitor: EMMK <GO>
Most-read environmental news: MNI ENV <GO>
Most-read renewable-energy news: MNI ALTNRG <GO>

--Editors: Paul Tighe

To contact the reporter on this story:
Gemma Daley in Canberra at +61-2-9777-8683 or
gdaley@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Bill Austin at +813-3201-8952 or
billaustin@bloomberg.net