China, Brazil question whether Australia's emissions reduction targets are ambitious enough

Updated

The Federal Government is facing increasing international pressure over its environment policies, with China and Brazil questioning whether Australia's emissions reduction targets are ambitious enough.

Documents from the United Nations show Australia has been asked 36 questions about its 2020 emissions targets from China, the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.

It is part of the United Nations' Multilateral Assessment process, which aims to transparently compare the emissions reduction efforts of developed nations.

Currently, Australia's 2020 target is a 5 per cent reduction on greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 levels – a level questioned by Brazil.

"Considering the low level of ambition presented until now, as well as the historical data, does Australia intend to change its unconditional target in order to increase its level of ambition?" Brazil asked.

The Federal Government has said in the past it would consider increasing the 2020 target to 15 per cent or 25 per cent depending what the rest of the world does.

"Australia further indicated that the 15 per cent and 25 per cent conditional targets are based on the level of international action, especially from advanced economies," China said.

"This ambition level is far below the requirement that Australia set out for advanced economies.

"Please clarify the fairness of such requirements."

John Connor from The Climate Institute said Australia's policies were taking criticism, both directly and in a veiled way.

"Australia has had more questions asked of it than any other nation," he said.

"It's fair to say there's been some serious questions about both the adequacy of the [2020] target that it's choosing and also of the polices now that we've moved away from a price and limit on carbon pollution."

Results of first ERF auction to be released this week

Other nations asked whether the Federal Government's $2.55 billion Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) would meet the 5 per cent 2020 target.

The first ERF auction was held last week, amid doubts from analysts over whether the scheme would work.

The results of that first auction will be released this week, and given Australia has met its international commitments in the past, the Government remains confident.

The United States questioned if the ERF was the only measure being implemented to replace Australia's now-scrapped emissions trading scheme (ETS)

"Will the Emissions Reduction Fund constitute the primary measure implemented to replace the ETS, or are other significant policies and measures being contemplated?" the US asked.

The EU wanted more information to find out if the ERF could be used to meet a possible 15 per cent or 25 per cent target by 2020.

Australia has two months to respond to the questions as of March 31.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt is currently on leave and was unavailable for interview.

Five per cent target 'inadequate' and 'irrelevant'

The Government is deciding more than just the 2020 targets.

Australia is in the process of setting its targets for beyond 2020, which will be negotiated in Paris in December.

The ABC revealed last week that the French government is urging Australia to take a strong and ambitious position to the Paris meeting.

The Federal Government has vowed to release its planned targets by the middle of the year.

The Climate Institute's John Connor said many other major emitters had already announced their targets.

"Other countries are already putting up significant reductions — the US off the same 2000 base year would be doing around 30 per cent by 2025," he said.

"You've got Europe proposing 40 per cent off similar levels by 2030."

"So the 5 per cent is not only inadequate in terms of comparison with other international action elsewhere, it's irrelevant when it comes to the ambition that is needed beyond 2020."

Topics: environment, environmental-policy, australia, brazil, china

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