Australia needs credible targets
Government fails crucial leadership test with weak target
The Federal Government has failed a major climate change leadership test with its white paper on emissions trading. A weak target to cut emissions by just 5–15 per cent by 2020 is the centrepiece of the white paper.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) believes it is in Australia’s national interest to achieve a strong global agreement on climate change and the best way for us to encourage other countries to reduce their carbon emissions is to lead by example and set strong targets to reduce our own.
“The weak targets announced today will damage Australia’s international reputation and hold back progress towards an effective international agreement,” ACF executive director Don Henry said.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s advice that developed countries, as a group, must reduce their carbon pollution by 25–40 per cent is already on the table of international negotiations.
“Today the Prime Minister said Australia would seek a 450ppm outcome in the international negotiations, noting that this would give the world a chance of avoiding the worst of climate change, however this does not fit with his target numbers.
“Professor Garnaut said for Australia to do its full and fair share to achieve this global goal, Australia would need to cut emissions by 25 per cent cut by 2020.
“A weak target to cut emissions by just 5–15 per cent by 2020 is simply not credible.”
According to scientific modelling anything less than a 25 per cent cut in emissions by 2020 by developed nations like Australia would set the world on a course that is likely to result in catastrophic impacts on our natural environment. A temperature rise of three degree or more would mean the destruction the Great Barrier Reef, significant loss of species and the decline of the agricultural value of the Murray Darling Basin.
ACF is urging all sides of politics to do more to secure a global agreement by supporting a much stronger 2020 target ahead of the crucial United Nations’ climate conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Read ACF's full briefer on setting credible targets.
An open letter to Kevin Rudd signed by 54 Australian environment groups.