Greenpeace welcomes the retention of the Climate Change Authority and the Fraser-led review of the viability of international emission trading schemes.
However, the proposed Direct Action Plan is a tragically inadequate response to the very real threat posed by climate change,” said Clyde. “Australia needs mandatory, deep cuts to our carbon pollution. The Prime Minister needs to come to grips with reality – a reality that includes the very real threat of climate change.”
“To contextualise the impotence of this measure, consider this: the government approved the Carmichael mine in Queensland knowing that carbon emissions attributed to this mine alone would cancel out all gains made from the Direct Action climate policy (which aims to reduce emissions by 131 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2020). The burning of coal from Carmichael mine would emit approximately 130 million tonnes of carbon dioxide for every year of the mine's 90 year life” said Clyde.
On the eve of the UN’s IPCC Fifth Synthesis Report, Australia is making history with an unprecedented attack on action on climate change. This includes:
- Being the first government to abolish a price on carbon
- Has abolished the Climate Commission
- Has abolished the country’s long-term emissions reduction target of 80% by 2050
- Beginning Renewable Energy Target negotiations with a position advocating an effective 60% cut to the mandatory renewables build over the next six years
- Legislating a 5% target, which the Climate Change Authority has described as not “a credible start by Australia towards achieving the below 2 degree goal”
- Has cut funding to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
“While all of this has been happening, Tony Abbott has become a self-styled cheer leader for coal, business as usual use of which – in the language of the IPCC – increases the ‘likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems’”.
Since Tony Abbott won government, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has declared that 2013 was among the top ten warmest years since modern records began in 1850, with the warmth being “most extreme in Australia, which had its hottest year on record”.
For further comment:
Greenpeace campaigner Nic Clyde: 0438 282 409
Media Officer Julie 0400 925 217