09/02/2021

(AU) Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack Flags Excluding Agriculture From 2050 Climate Target

ABC News - Jade Macmillan

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said his immediate focus was on issues other than climate targets. (ABC News: Sean Davey)
Key Points
  • The Prime Minister says it's "preferable" to reach net zero emissions by 2050 but hasn't set a target
  • Deputy PM Michael McCormack has suggested agriculture could be excluded
  • Labor argues Australia needs to reach carbon neutrality "across the economy"
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says the Government might consider excluding agriculture from future long-term climate change targets.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared his goal is to reach net zero emissions "as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050", although he has not committed to it.

Mr McCormack said Australia could follow New Zealand's lead in exempting emissions from the agriculture sector.
"Indeed, that could well be one of the options, but as I say, it's a long way off," the Nationals leader told Sky News.

Australia’s peak farm body has thrown its weight behind an aspirational economy-wide target of net carbon zero by 2050.

Members of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) have voted in favour of the landmark policy – which includes strict caveats regarding fair implementation and economic viability – at an online meeting this month.

NFF President Fiona Simson said the strengthening of the NFF’s climate goals was a strong reminder of the role farmers already played in tackling emissions.

“Australia’s farm sector continues to be a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Simson said.

“In the past decade, agriculture has consistently reduced its emissions intensity and net emissions within the Australian economy."

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"New Zealand, well yes they've said that 2050 is a target but they've also had that caveat with their agriculture.

"Well if that's what it takes, well that's what it takes, but we're not going to hurt regional Australia, we're not going to hurt those wonderful people who've put food on our table."

New Zealand has set a 2050 target of reaching net zero emissions "of all greenhouse gases other than biogenic methane".

McCormack 'not worried about what might happen in 30 years'

Mr McCormack said he did not want to see regional areas disproportionately affected by Australia's climate change response but argued his immediate focus was on other issues.

"There are huge challenges in 2021 and we're not worried, well I'm certainly not worried, about what might happen in 30 years' time," he said.

"The concentration at the moment indeed for me, for the National Party and indeed for regional Australia is getting back on our feet after what's been a very challenging year."

Richard Marles said Australia needed to reach carbon neutrality. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Asked whether agriculture should be exempted from a potential 2050 target, Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said Australia needed to reach carbon neutrality "across the economy".

"That's what Paris requires and that's the commitment that we have made," he told the ABC's Insiders program.
"Labor has made a commitment, we didn't hear that from the Government this week.
"I'm not sure what he heard from the Prime Minister, it might have been a hope, an aspiration, 'inching' I think is the word, but what we did not hear was a commitment."

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