Australia's emissions reduction target inadequate: Climate Change Authority report

Updated

The Federal Government's independent climate policy adviser has declared Australia's emissions reduction target inadequate and not credible.

In a draft report on emissions reduction targets, the Climate Change Authority says Australia's commitment to cutting emissions by 5 per cent from 2000 levels by 2020 would leave Australia lagging behind other comparable countries like the United States.

It has not recommended a final, tougher target, but has canvassed two options for emissions reductions targets.

It says there could be a 15 per cent reduction by 2020, with a trajectory range of 35 to 50 per cent by 2030.

Alternatively, there could be a 25 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020, with a trajectory range of 40 to 50 per cent by 2030.

Key points: Australia has committed to reducing emissions reductions by five per cent from 2000 levels.

But the independent climate advisor says this target is inadequate, not credible and would leave Australia lagging behind other countries.

The Climate Change Authority is instead exploring two options for a 15 per cent and a 25 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020.

The Coalition intends to legislate to abolish the Authority.

The report says a weaker 2020 target would require faster reductions later, if Australia is to play its fair role in contributing to the international goal of limiting global warming by 2 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels.

But Environment Minister Greg Hunt says the Government will not change its targets until it gauges the international response at the next UN Climate Summit, due to be held in Paris in September 2015.

"This is one input, it's a draft report, I respect and appreciate the contribution," Mr Hunt said.

"Our timeframe remains unchanged.

"The world will make a decision at the end of 2015.

"We will do our analysis based on how the world is tracking at that point."

Authority says higher targets will not hamper economy

But Climate Change Authority chief executive officer Anthea Harris says Australia is able to work towards a higher target than a 5 per cent reduction by 2020.

"Moving from a five to something like a 15 or a 25 per cent target is achievable," Ms Harris said.

"The Government's own conditions, which are bipartisan, for moving beyond 5 per cent, have been met."

She says lifting emissions reduction targets would not hamper economic growth.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Climate Change Authority CEO Anthea Harris speaks to News 24 (ABC News)

Under the current 5 per cent minimum target, gross national income per person is expected to grow by 0.8 per cent a year until 2020.

Under a 15 per cent target, GNI would grow by 0.78 per cent per person, and by 0.76 per cent for a 25 per cent target.

"The costs of moving beyond 5 per cent are relatively small, and moving beyond 5 (per cent) would put us more in line with what other countries are doing," she said.

Ms Harris would not be drawn on the Federal Government's direct action policy, saying the Authority has tried not to "speculate on the design details of that arrangement".

The Authority will accept submissions on the draft report until November 29, with the final report due to be handed to the Government by the end of February.

The Coalition intends to introduce legislation in the first sitting of Parliament to abolish the authority, which is led by former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser.

The authority was set up by the former Labor government to provide expert advice on carbon pricing and climate policy.

Labor, Greens call for Government to take report seriously

The Opposition's Environment spokesman Mark Butler has warned against shutting the authority down, and says he hopes the Government takes the report seriously.

"The United States is working to a reduction target of 17 per cent by 2020," he said.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Mark Butler speaks with News Breakfast (ABC News)

"Europe other countries have similar targets.

"This is a debate we need to have and I'd like to see the independent voices maintained in the debate rather than shut down."

Greens leader Christine Milne says the Government should abandon the 5 per cent reduction target and agree to cut emissions by at least 25 per cent.

"Well, a 5 per cent reduction is woefully inadequate," she said.

"The Climate Change Authority has now confirmed that and this really puts the spotlight on Tony Abbott.

"He has tried to say that he accepts the climate science.

"Australia has signed up to constraining global warming to less than two degrees and 5 per cent will not do that task."

But Mr Hunt has used the report's release to continue building pressure on the Labor Party and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten over abolishing the carbon pricing scheme.

"Mr Shorten's model, which is looked at here by the Climate Change Authority, will see electricity bills skyrocket," he said.

"So 'Electricity Bill' must now make a decision whether he's for lower electricity prices and will support our plan to abolish the carbon tax, or determine whether or not he's for higher electricity prices."

Legislation to dump the carbon tax will also be put before Parliament when it sits in less than two weeks.

Environmental groups have welcomed the report, saying it provides some clear-headed advice about Australia’s emissions reduction target.

WWF Australia policy manager Will McGoldrick says the Federal Government may have no choice but to lift the target.

"The reality is that Australia's involved in a series of international negotiations around targets at the moment so a lot of pressure will build on Australia to strengthen its 2020 emissions target," he said.

"It's not something that the government can really avoid."

Topics: pollution, environment, climate-change, government-and-politics, australia

First posted