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Climate change: Australia sets new emissions target Climate change: Australia sets new emissions target
(about 1 hour later)
Australia plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 26% and 28% below 2005 levels by 2030, PM Tony Abbott has said.Australia plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 26% and 28% below 2005 levels by 2030, PM Tony Abbott has said.
The target is less than cuts pledged by other developed nations like Canada and the US. It is less than cuts pledged by countries such as Canada and the US.
Australia had previously set a target of cutting emissions by 5% by 2020 compared with a baseline year of 2000. Australia's previous target was to cut emissions by 5% by 2020, based on emissions in 2000.
The country is still largely powered by coal and is one of the world's biggest coal exporters. The announcement comes ahead of a key international meeting in Paris in December to agree on a new global climate strategy.
The change in target comes ahead of an international meeting in Paris in December to agree on a new global climate change strategy. Australia is still largely powered by carbon-polluting coal and is one of the world's biggest coal exporters.
Australian business groups had reportedly been pushing for a target of about 30% below 2005 levels while environment groups and scientists are calling for even tougher targets. Mr Abbott said Australia had to protect economic growth at the same time as it reduced emissions.
The Climate Council of Australia, an independent non-profit research organisation, says that to stay below a 2°C rise in global temperature, Australia would need to cut emissions by 60% by 2030 on 2000 levels. "It is very much that everything we do has this in mind: how do we promote jobs and growth... and climate change policy is no different," he said at a press conference in Canberra.
"We have to reduce our emissions... but in ways that are consistent with continued strong growth."
'Vastly inadequate'
Mr Abbott said Australia's target was within the middle of the spread of targets adopted by economies of comparable size.
He said the cost to the economy of achieving a 26% cut by 2030 would equate to between about 0.2% and 0.3% of Australia's gross domestic product (GDP).
Scientist Tim Flannery from independent not-for-profit research group the Climate Council, said even if Australia met this target, it would still be emitting more per person than the US and "significantly more" than the UK, on a per capital basis.
How does Australia compare to other countries?
"These targets are vastly inadequate to protect Australians from the impacts of climate change and do not represent a fair contribution to the world effort to bring climate change under control," said Prof Flannery.
The Climate Council says that to stay below a 2°C rise in global temperature, Australia would need to cut emissions by 60% by 2030 on 2000 levels.
It says Australia is the 13th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world and has one of the highest per capita emissions rates.It says Australia is the 13th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world and has one of the highest per capita emissions rates.