Forums > Social Discussion > Australia to ban standard lightbulb

 Written by: ITV.com



https://www.itv.com/news/world_09b7e74c7547fc994f942ae04231f306.html

Australia is to ban the standard lightbulb in a bid to cut down its greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the move to phase out incandescent bulbs and replace them with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs as a world first.

He said it could reduce Australia's emissions by four million tonnes by 2012 and cut household power bills by up to 66 per cent.

"If the whole world switched to these bulbs today, we would reduce our consumption of electricity by an amount equal to five times Australia's annual consumption of electricity," said Mr Turnbull.

Prime Minister John Howard said the plan would help all Australians play a part in cutting the country's harmful gas emissions.

Mr Howard has become a global warming convert, conceding in recent months for the first time that human activity is having an effect on rising temperatures.

However he has steadfastly refused to bring Australia into line with most of the world and ratify the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gas reductions, arguing that doing so could damage Australia's coal-dependent economy.