25/02/2020

(AU) Anthony Albanese Says Coal Mining Could Continue In Australia In A Net Zero Emissions World

ABC News - Anna Henderson


Coal mining could continue beyond 2050 even if Australia adopts a net zero emissions target, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says.

Key points
  • Anthony Albanese says all energy sources will need to be part of the process to reach the net zero-emissions target
  • Mr Albanese said Labor did not believe a carbon price would be necessary to achieve this
  • Mr Albanese is opposed to the Government's investment in new brown coal but agreed there was still likely to be coal mining in Australia post-2050
Labor's shadow cabinet has agreed to move with 73 other nations, and every state and territory, to embrace a carbon-neutral target by the middle of the century.
It is the same overarching target Labor took to the last election.
Mr Albanese is opposed to government investment in new thermal coal mining — the type of coal that is used in coal-fired power stations.
But under questioning by Insiders host David Speers, he agreed there was still likely to be coal mining in Australia post-2050.
"I suspect we will," Mr Albanese said.
"[The target is] net, that's the point."
He argued there was no replacement for metallurgical coal, which is used to make steel and is a major export out of Queensland.
The Labor leader also agreed thermal coal mining for export could continue under the commitment.
"Yes, we could," he said.
"It will be determined by global action."
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The Morrison Government risks being stranded at the intersection of climate change-related disasters and their economic fallout, writes Ian Verrender.
The Australian coal sector employs more than 50,000 people.
Mr Albanese said exported coal was not counted in Australia's greenhouse gas budget.
"You don't measure the emissions where the original product comes from. I mean Japan isn't responsible for the emissions of every vehicle that's built in Japan," he said.
Albanese: Net zero will be 'economy wide'
The Opposition Leader confirmed Labor's 2050 net-zero emissions policy would apply to all industries.
He told Insiders transport and agriculture would not have any special considerations.
That's different to the position taken by his predecessor, Bill Shorten, before the last election.
"Emissions are about energy, they're about transport," Mr Albanese said.He said the net-zero target was not just about driving down emissions, but also compensating for them.
What do we really think
about taking climate action?
A majority of Australians believe climate change is driving more droughts and floods, and that higher power prices are the result of "excessive profit margins".
"It's also about practices that can make a difference in going negative emissions, if you like," he said.
"You can do that through agriculture, through forestry, through a range of measures."
Mr Albanese was pressed repeatedly to confirm whether Labor would be open to a price on carbon as a way to incentivise industries to reduce emissions.
"We don't believe that is necessary," Mr Albanese replied.
"We didn't go to the last election with that commitment."
Labor is yet to confirm whether it will ditch the shorter-term, 2030 climate-change target the party took to last year's election.
Privately, many opposition MPs expect it to be changed and pushed back.
Mr Albanese said Labor was committed to "interim" measures ahead of 2050, but he said the timeframe and details of those measures were yet to be settled.

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