Labor Offers Alternative Climate Change Policy

SBS

With Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his way to the Paris climate change summit, federal Labor has detailed the climate policy it will take to the voters next year.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten: Labor offers alternative climate change policy.

Labor's pledged to cut carbon emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 should they win, and promised to offset Australia's carbon pollution by the middle of the century.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten revealed Labor's climate policy during an address to the Sydney-based policy analysis centre, The Lowy Institute.
Mr Shorten says Labor would aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.
He says it's part of a longer-term plan.
"For Australia to achieve net zero pollution by 2050 - stopping global warming means stopping new pollution. If we are to meet the global target of two degrees we must reach a point where we are not adding pollution to the atmosphere. This means that by 2050 every tonne of pollution that we produce will need to be rebalanced by sequestering, offsetting or purchasing. "
Mr Shorten acknowledges it's a tough target.
"This is an ambitious goal - a goal recognised by the Australian Climate Round Table and internationally a goal recognised by global business leaders. I am very confident that the Paris conference will mark a turning point towards the de-carbonisation of the global economy with a new focus on net zero pollution."
Labor's announcement comes just days before Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives in the French capital for major international climate talks.
Labor's target is more in line with what's been recommended by the independent Climate Change Authority.
It is also significantly higher than the 2030 target the Turnbull government will table in Paris.
The coalition's 2030 goal seeks to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent on 2005 levels.
Mr Shorten says that's simply not acceptable.
"The Abbott-Turnbull 2030 target puts Australia at the back of the international pack. No amount of saying it reduces on a per capita amount is sufficient. It certainly falls well short of Australia's obligation to help keeping warming below two degrees on pre-industrial levels."
But Treasurer Scott Morrison disagrees with Labor's calculations.
"This is the sort of thing the climate change commission said would cost Australians more than $600 billion over a 15 year period. No wonder he wants to bring back a carbon tax with full fury to pay for those sorts of commitments."
Federal Industry Minister Christopher Pyne went further, telling Channel 9 that Labor's target would hit ordinary Australians - hard.
"Bill Shorten's policy, his thought bubble, 45 per cent reduction, would require them to introduce, or re-introduce, a carbon tax at double the rate of the carbon tax before. He wants to smash household budgets and smash the economy."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he's optimistic an agreement will be reached in Paris.

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