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The
world's largest exporter of coal and iron ore will cut emissions
by 26-28 percent of 2005 levels by 2030, Abbott said, a target
that will be submitted as part of negotiations on a global
climate deal in Paris at the end of the year.
Australia is one of the largest carbon emitters on a per capita
basis due to its reliance on coal-fired power plants, and
critics say the move will do little to bring it in line with
ambitious targets set by the United States and Europe.
Abbott is already facing criticism for his strong support for
the coal industry and for scrapping an ambitious carbon tax and
emissions trading plan last year.
"We've got to reduce our emissions but we've got to reduce our
emissions in ways which are consistent with continued strong
growth," Abbott told reporters.
"The last thing we want to do is strengthen the environment and
at the same time damage our economy."
Australia is currently aiming to reduce emissions by 5 percent
from 2000 levels by 2020.
Critics accused Abbott of gaming the system by choosing 2005
instead of 2000 for the new benchmark. 2005 was an historically
high year for emissions.
The government's independent expert body, the Climate Change
Authority, said last month Australia needed to reduce emissions
by 40 to 60 percent from 2000 levels by 2030 to meet an
international agreement to limit global warming to two degrees
Celsius over pre-industrial levels.
Abbott said the new target puts Australia in line with pledges
from the United States, the EU and Canada, but data compiled by
the Climate Institute think tank puts Canberra's position below
all three.
Washington has pledged a 26-28 percent drop on 2005 levels by
2025, or about 41 percent by 2030, while Brussels has promised
to deliver 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2030, or about 34
percent based on 2005 levels, it said.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said the target was
out of step with international consensus.
"It's a defeatist target that shows no faith in the ability of
Australians to adapt, innovate and make the transition to a
clean economy," ACF head Kelly O'Shanassy said in a statement.
A poll released last week by the Climate Institute showed 63
percent of Australians wanted more action on climate change, up
six percentage points from 2014.
Australia's main opposition Labor Party has seized on the shift
in public opinion, pledging last month to reinstate the
emissions trading scheme and raise the level of energy generated
by renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030.
(Reporting by Matt Siegel; Editing by Richard Pullin)
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