Australia: New government tightens climate targets

Australia wants to reduce its CO2 emissions by more than 40 percent by 2030. This was announced by the new Prime Minister Albany, who is significantly tightening the country’s climate targets compared to the previous government.

Australia has announced plans to do significantly more in the future for climate protection than it has until now. The new Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has significantly tightened the country’s climate targets and submitted a revised climate protection plan to the United Nations. CO2 emissions will be reduced by 43% by 2030 compared to 2005.

The new center-left government is pursuing a completely different climate policy than Scott Morrison’s previous conservative government. It is projected to be only 26 to 28 percent by 2030 and refused to meet even more drastic reduction targets last year.

Reviewing Climate Policy

Prime Minister Albany said the basis for Australia’s prosperous future is a clean and cheap energy future. He wrote on Twitter: “After a decade of denial, we must end the climate wars. We will work hand in hand with all those who want a better future powered by cheap and clean renewable energy.”

During the election campaign, Albanese pledged to tackle the climate crisis and invest in renewable energy. The Labor boss clearly won the May parliamentary election. The right-wing Conservative coalition under Morrison suffered heavy losses. He was mainly criticized for his climate policy.

Putting the brakes on climate protection

Internationally, Australia was seen as a drag on environmental protection. In October, just before the start of the World Climate Conference, the country already announced that it was aiming for more ambitious climate goals. And climate neutralization by 2050. However, former Prime Minister Morrison has long been reluctant to deliver on that goal.

No country emits more individual greenhouse gases than Australia. The sun-drenched country produces more electricity from coal and is one of the world’s largest coal exporters. On the one hand, billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs are at risk, and on the other hand, Australia in particular has been hit hard by the effects of climate change. Again, catastrophic wildfires, intense heat waves, torrential rains and floods occur. The Great Barrier Reef, a world heritage site, is being destroyed by global warming.