the Rudd Government's new plans to reduce carbon emissions in fact insult the very idea that ordinary people have a role to play in tackling climate change.
 
Instead under the current scheme, action you take at home to reduce energy - like changing to efficient light bulbs, or installing solar hot water - will not reduce Australia's total emissions on top of the Government's weak target of 5-15%, it will only make more room for industry to increase their emissions under that cap.
 
That's outrageous, and unfair - but we still have an opportunity to fix this flaw.
 
Check out this advert for Friday's edition of The Australian and sign your name to the petition here:
 
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/ClimateActionNow&id=535

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The Maldives – the island nation threatened by rising sea level as a result of global warming – is attempting to become the world's first carbon-neutral country.

The Independent has learnt that tomorrow President Mohammed Nasheed will reveal details of a plan to achieve full carbon neutrality within 10 years. In doing so, his country of islands in the Indian Ocean, will join a small group of nations racing to be first in what environmentalists have described as "the Carbon World Cup".

Five other countries – Costa Rica, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand and Monaco – have signed up to a UN-backed plan to become zero net emitters but none intend to achieve carbon neutrality as quickly as the Maldives, a nation of island atolls which is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Earlier this week, Ahmed Shafeeq Ibrahim Moosa was appointed the country's new envoy for science and technology and is investigating ways to make the country carbon neutral. Mr Moosa, a former political activist and journalist, was appointed with a new Agricultural Minister, one of whose tasks is to reduce food imports.

Mr Moosa said: "Ten years – that's the target. We're going to be looking at solar, wind and waves and working out the best system for us. There will have to be a lot of education. People need to know everyone can do their bit. The Maldives is a small country with only 300,000 people. It will be achievable."

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The National Farmers Federation (NFF) says it is encouraged by the Federal Government's decision to exclude agriculture from the emissions trading scheme.

The Government has agreed to exclude farmers from an emissions cap, in a backflip aimed at winning the support of the Opposition.

It has agreed to exclude agriculture from the costs of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and allow farmers to generate carbon credits, to try to get the legislation passed in the next fortnight.

The Coalition has welcomed the concession but says more changes are needed.

NFF president David Crombie it is a good step, but wants more details about how the Government will allow farmers to offset their emissions.

"Every one of our overseas competitors and our market countries in the United States, Canada, Europe, Britain and Japan have excluded their agriculture, we think it's entirely appropriate we do the same," he said.

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