The Australian senate passed a renewable energy law this week that will require 20 percent of the country's energy to be from renewable sources by 2020.

The target is comparable to the European Union's stated goal and exceeds those proposed by the U.S. Congress' American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).

Many environmentalists and Green Party members remained skeptical, however, after Conservatives convinced the Australian government to classify coal seam methane gas - a coal mining waste product - as a renewable energy source.

The law's passage guarantees that Australia will have a formal policy to present to the UN Climate Treaty negotiations (UNCCC) in Copenhagen this December.

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photo by sachman75.