The coalition is “absolutely committed” to the Paris Agreement despite its intention to scrap Australia’s legally binding climate targets.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said he would dump Australia’s target to cut emissions by 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, should the coalition win the next federal election.
Under the Paris Agreement, members must increase their emissions targets every five years and cannot water them down.
Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman wouldn’t be drawn on whether the coalition would have a 2030 target.
“We’re committed to the Paris Agreement,” he told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
“We’re committed to net-zero by 2050 and we’ll have more to say about targets well in advance of the election.”
The Paris Agreement commits countries to taking measures that limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees and to keep them below 2 degrees.
Climate groups are warning that going back on Australia’s climate targets could hamper investment as the nation transitions to a cleaner economy.
The move could risk Australia’s membership of the Paris Agreement on climate change, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen saying the nation would be in the company of Yemen and Iran.
Education Minister Jason Clare said Mr Dutton had made a “big mistake”.
“Any Australian … would think now that Peter Dutton is a real risk, a risk to investment, a risk to jobs, but just a risk that Australia will do nothing to tackle climate change,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
The coalition is proposing to introduce nuclear energy as the pathway to reducing emissions.
Asked why the government was opposed to including nuclear energy in Australia’s mix, Mr Clare said it “costs a fortune” and took too long to rollout.
The CSIRO last month reported the first nuclear plants wouldn’t be achieved until 2040 at the earliest.
Australia’s ban on nuclear power would also have to be overturned in a lengthy process.
Opposition National Disability Insurance Scheme spokesman Michael Sukkar said the coalition remained committed to net-zero emissions by 2050.
“This government has made the further interim commitment, a commitment that they cannot show how on earth they’re going to meet,” he said.
In a statement, Solutions for Climate Australia said nuclear reactors in the country would contribute to worse climate outcomes.
“Nuclear is a worrying distraction from getting on with the urgent job at hand: replacing polluting coal and gas with the sun and wind technology we have right now,” Senior Campaigner Elly Baxter said.
Investor Group on Climate Change managing director Erwin Jackson said the Paris Agreement and its emissions targets had mobilised billions of dollars towards new clean, job-creating industries.
“Back-flipping on these commitments and withdrawing from the Paris Agreement would corrode investor confidence at a time when Australia is competing for funding for new technologies and clean industries, local jobs and training opportunities,” he said.
* This article was originally published here
