As climate change policy gains momentum as a big issue for the upcoming Federal Election, questions are arising about how Australia can expect to meet its international climate treaty obligations.
The Morrison Government has confirmed that it will be utilising surplus carbon credits to meet its obligations under the Paris agreement, in conjunction with its promise of a 26% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030.
The credits, however, are a point of contention; other global powers, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, have elected not to use them in their bids to meet their own climate obligations.
The Minister for Energy, the Hon Angus Taylor MP, said that Labor’s emissions reduction target of 45% by 2030 would be ‘economy-wrecking if they do use the carryover… but it will be apocalyptic if they don’t use it’.
Minister for Environment, the Hon Melissa Price MP stated that ‘the fact that we have carryover is actually really good news for Australia- it means we’ve overachieved’.
The Opposition has not yet confirmed whether it will be using the credits to meet its own target, with Leader the Hon Bill Shorten MP saying that he is currently ‘taking advice’ on the issue.
Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, Shadow Assistant Minister for Families and Communities, stated that the ALP was consulting on potentially using carryover carbon credits but argued that these credits should not be used as ‘an excuse for delaying real action’.
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