August 15, 2015
Labor's proposed emissions trading scheme does not equate to a new carbon tax and the Abbott government assertion that its emissions cuts are akin to the United States are incorrect, according to the government's own climate change advisers.
Climate Change Authority chair Bernie Fraser issued the strong statement late on Friday, responding to the government's post-2020 emissions targets announced this week.
The government intends to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere by 26-28 per cent by 2030, based on 2005 levels.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament that Australia's target compares well with other developed countries and was "the same as the United States", despite that nation promising to meet its cuts five years earlier. He stood by the comments after Labor called on him to apologise.
Mr Fraser said Australia's targets put the nation "at or near the bottom" of comparable countries.
A table showed Australia was well behind Britain, who will seek 61 per cent cuts in the same period, and below the United States, which will pursue cuts of 35-39 per cent.
Mr Fraser said all nations had a lot of work to do to keep global warming below two degrees. On the basis of the government's current targets, Australia "would slip further behind the efforts being made by comparable countries and likely face large catch-up adjustments down the track," he said.
The government has said Australia keeps its commitments to emissions cuts while other nations make "airy-fairy promises that never come to anything".
Mr Fraser said in relation to the Kyoto protocol, all nations except the US and Canada, which never agreed to the protocol, met their targets in the first commitment period.
Labor has announced plans to implement an emissions trading scheme if it wins power, as well as other schemes affecting the power industry and vehicles.
Mr Abbott said it showed Labor had plans for a "triple whammy" carbon tax.
Mr Fraser said ETS proponents were "criticised by government members" every time the idea surfaced, adding an ETS was "not [a tax] in substantial respects".
News Corp has reported that official modelling showed the more ambitious emissions cut the authority called for - 40-60 per cent by 2030, based on 2000 levels - would deliver a $600 billion hit to the economy.
The government seized on the figure and claimed Labor has aligned itself with this target, although Labor rejected this.
Mr Fraser said claims the target would cost $600 billion were "incorrect" and did not reflect the findings of Treasury modelling.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt insisted the figure was accurate.
He said it was "clear" Labor planned to adopt the authority's emissions target, which would be "devastating ... for Australian families and the economy".
Labor's proposed emissions trading scheme does not equate to a new carbon tax and the Abbott government assertion that its emissions cuts are akin to the United States are incorrect, according to the government's own climate change advisers.
Climate Change Authority chair Bernie Fraser issued the strong statement late on Friday, responding to the government's post-2020 emissions targets announced this week.
The government intends to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere by 26-28 per cent by 2030, based on 2005 levels.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament that Australia's target compares well with other developed countries and was "the same as the United States", despite that nation promising to meet its cuts five years earlier. He stood by the comments after Labor called on him to apologise.
Mr Fraser said Australia's targets put the nation "at or near the bottom" of comparable countries.
A table showed Australia was well behind Britain, who will seek 61 per cent cuts in the same period, and below the United States, which will pursue cuts of 35-39 per cent.
Mr Fraser said all nations had a lot of work to do to keep global warming below two degrees. On the basis of the government's current targets, Australia "would slip further behind the efforts being made by comparable countries and likely face large catch-up adjustments down the track," he said.
The government has said Australia keeps its commitments to emissions cuts while other nations make "airy-fairy promises that never come to anything".
Mr Fraser said in relation to the Kyoto protocol, all nations except the US and Canada, which never agreed to the protocol, met their targets in the first commitment period.
Labor has announced plans to implement an emissions trading scheme if it wins power, as well as other schemes affecting the power industry and vehicles.
Mr Abbott said it showed Labor had plans for a "triple whammy" carbon tax.
Mr Fraser said ETS proponents were "criticised by government members" every time the idea surfaced, adding an ETS was "not [a tax] in substantial respects".
News Corp has reported that official modelling showed the more ambitious emissions cut the authority called for - 40-60 per cent by 2030, based on 2000 levels - would deliver a $600 billion hit to the economy.
The government seized on the figure and claimed Labor has aligned itself with this target, although Labor rejected this.
Mr Fraser said claims the target would cost $600 billion were "incorrect" and did not reflect the findings of Treasury modelling.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt insisted the figure was accurate.
He said it was "clear" Labor planned to adopt the authority's emissions target, which would be "devastating ... for Australian families and the economy".
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