Australia’s carbon emissions are rising, according to a statement published by the Climate Council and supported by 28 experts in the field of climate science and energy.
The climate experts’ statement appeared in a full-page advertisement in the Australian Financial Review on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
Australia will not meet its 2030 emission reduction targets under present policy, say the group of climate and energy experts, who have a combined 600 years’ experience.
Rising carbon emissions claim made in national newspaper
According to the Council statement, statistics show the Federal Government has failed in its duty to tackle climate change.
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The Paris Agreement states that Australia’s emissions must drop 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously stated that Australia will meet its Paris Agreement target “at a canter”.
However, the government’s own quarterly data shows Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution increasing over a four-year period.
Official government projections and international organisations like the OECD and UN Environment Program also confirm Australia’s rising carbon emissions.
Solar and wind power key to more sustainable future: CC
The Federal Government must urgently adopt a credible climate change policy, the Council says. All sectors need to reduce emissions urgently.
Because of this, clean energy from wind and solar power is essential. It will give Australians affordable and reliable power into the future.
The central pillar of the Federal Government’s emission reductions program is the $35 billion Climate Solutions Fund. However, the scheme does not apply to the energy generation sector. It therefore puts investment in large-scale renewables at risk.
The Morrison Government could also potentially support new coal-fired power plants with its Underwriting New Generation Investments program. Yet coal-dependent energy companies AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy top the list of Australian’s biggest carbon emitters.
NSW election a chance to vote for climate protection
NSW voters head to the polls tomorrow. Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a $3.2 billion Empowering Homes program. It will offer 300,000 households no-interest loans to install solar panel and battery storage systems.
Meanwhile, NSW Labor has a renewable energy target (RET) of 50 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050. If elected, Labor will create a state-owned clean energy company.
It will also offer residential solar rebates and invest $10 million for electric car charging stations.
It is through such small scale solar that the everyday person can make an impact on rising carbon emissions.
