Australia votes on first climate law

The Labor government, which took office in May, wants to enshrine its plans in the fight against climate change – specifically to cut CO2 emissions by 43 percent by 2030 – into national law. The legislation will be tabled in the Senate, the second chamber of Parliament, in mid-September.

The Climate Act is an important milestone for a country particularly affected by climate change. There have been several severe floods this year. Wildfires may increase in association with higher temperatures and longer dry periods.

After the vote in parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of his party’s “delivering on a key promise” to voters. Scott Morrison’s previous Conservative government was heavily criticized for its hesitant stance on climate policy. However, Albanese said in a recent interview with broadcaster ABC that he did not want to stop coal mining, which has been criticized by climate experts as not burdening the economy.

Until recently, it was unclear whether the Greens would support the legislation. In weeks of negotiations, the party initially pushed for a 75 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions, which Labor rejected. It was only on Wednesday evening that Greens leader Adam Band finally pledged his party’s support.

Band said on Thursday that it was important to act as soon as possible: “If we get to 2 degrees (of global warming), beyond the Great Barrier Reef and parts of Australia we will become uninhabitable.” , warned that. Independent politicians insisted that emissions targets should be understood as minimums. (sda/dpa)