Australia has joined the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), an association of governments working together on emissions trading. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the new climate change partnership with the UK which is aimed at building a global low carbon economy and bolstering effective adaptation measures to combat increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Australia’s membership in ICAP is part of the bilateral agreement. “Building a global low carbon economy will provide new jobs, new industries and new growth for the future. This will require an ambitious long-term global target, supported by carbon markets that help drive investment in clean technologies,” Rudd said. “For Australia, finding a technological solution to carbon emissions from coalfired power stations is critical,” he said. ICAP was formed in October 2007 by several national and regional governments around the world. The EC is hosting ICAP’s first public conference in Brussels in May 2008. The current ICAP members are: the EC, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK from the EU; New Zealand; Norway; US RGGI members Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York; US Western Climate Initiative members Arizona, British Columbia, California, Manitoba, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
