Aussie bulb ban sparks UK interest
From correspondents in London
February 22, 2007 11:26pm
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA'S move to phase out standard light bulbs has prompted UK campaigners to ask: why can't Britain do the same?
The Guardian newspaper's Leo Hickman pointed out the decision to ban incandescent light bulbs, announced by Australian Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull this week, was taken in a country that refuses to sign the Kyoto protocol enforcing targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
“Isn't it rather embarrassing that a country as ungreen as Australia is showing up Britain?” he asked.
Ban the Bulb campaign founder Matt Prescott has been lobbying for Britain to introduce tax breaks on fluorescent bulbs, meaning manufacturers could make them cheaper for consumers.
But the British Government has rejected the suggestion, saying European Union rules prevent single states from altering Value-Added Tax rates without the consensus of all member states.
“How are you going to get consensus from 20-odd countries on this?” the paper quoted Dr Prescott as saying.
“If relying on the EU means this issue is delayed, then we should just take a stand as a country. We take them on over much harder issues than this.
“It's great to see Australia has a can-do approach ... in the UK we seem to have a can't-do approach that means you have to solve every conceivable problem or petty quibble before committing to action.”
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21272688-1702,00.html
