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SYDNEY, Australia — After months of debate and delays, the Australian government on Tuesday unveiled a plan based on hope and investment in low-emission technologies, promising to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050.
With promising jobs and no new taxes or mandates, the plan doesn’t include toughening emissions targets for 2030 – a key component of what scientists said will be needed from world leaders at next week’s UN climate summit in Glasgow. On the contrary international editionAustralia has signaled that it will not withdraw. excessive dependence on coal and gas.
Both play an important role in Australia’s electricity grid and as subsidized exports. The plan, released on Tuesday, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dubbed “unique Australian”, has led to continued reliance on fossil fuels and critics to claim will come to Scotland for a climate meeting with an outdated status quo wrapped in new packaging. .
“This is an update of the marketing materials the federal government uses to claim it’s doing something when it’s not really doing anything new,” said Richie Merzian, director of climate and energy at the Australian Institute, a progressive research organization. “It’s kind of ridiculous.”
Australia emits less than 2 percent of global greenhouse gases, but climate decisions carry significant weight as it is a coal superpower and the world’s third largest exporter of fossil fuels. At the same time, the country is becoming more and more vulnerable to global warming. Australia’s average surface temperature since 1910 warmed up to 1.4 degrees Celsiusexceeds the world average. Fires, droughts and hurricanes became more frequent and severe.
What world leaders with more ambitious commitments are trying to avoid is if temperatures continue in their current trajectory, Australia will see Climatologists say massive ecosystem loss in their oceans, high food prices from severe drought, and hundreds of thousands of coastal properties are in danger of flooding.
Mr Morrison made no mention of these risks when he appeared in the capital, Canberra, on Tuesday to promote his plan with Angus Taylor, minister for industry, energy and emissions reductions.
Mr Morrison said Australia is on track to exceed the Paris Agreement target of reducing emissions by 30 to 35 percent by 2030, largely as farmers, consumers and businesses choose more efficient, cleaner options like solar power. He insisted that the “Australian way” offered a model for the world because it would be built on various principles, such as “technology not taxes” and “choices not missions”.
Sounds like he’s already campaigning – Australia’s next federal election will be held by May next year – he said the government will invest A$20 billion ($15 billion) to expand the use of low-emission technologies like solar, wind and solar power. green hydrogen from the splitting of water with electricity from renewable energy. There will also be financial support for low-emission production of steel and aluminum.
According to all, published plan70 percent of the projected emissions reductions needed to reach net zero by 2050 will come from technology in one form or another.
Critics have often described it as a magical idea – especially since Australia’s effort to reach net zero will also include support for hydrogen made from fossil fuels that emit large amounts of carbon. technologies that are rarely tested, such as carbon capture and storageinvolves locking carbon underground. It can be read as another form of aid for the coal and gas industries, both of which are already strong.
And when asked about reducing gas exploration or power plants using fossil fuels, Mr. Morrison stressed that the plan would protect jobs nationwide.
Inside an idiom In a press conference released before the press conference, he put it more simply: “We want our heavy industries like mining to stay open, stay competitive and adapt so they can survive as long as global demand allows.”
In other words, critics argued that Australia’s official policy is still delay, not commitment.
Terry Hughes, a climate scientist who runs a center for coral reef research at James Cook University, said that if Australia were serious about climate change, it would ban new coal mines and gas fields rather than encourage them.
“A promise without legislation to reach ‘net’ zero by 2050 is meaningless,” he said. “Too little and too late.”
“The plan,” he added, “is a lost opportunity that delays any real action to reduce emissions.”
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