The government has introduced a bill on its first day of full session that would legislate a requirement that Australia reduce emissions by 43% by 2030.
Key Points:
- The government has introduced a bill to legislate its 2030 climate target
- It still does not have the necessary support to pass the upper house
- The climate change minister says he is prepared to drop the bill if it is unsuccessful
But Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has also threatened the government will abandon the legislation if it does not find wider support for the proposed law.
The government has already notified the United Nations of its updated climate targets, but argues that writing them into law would send a strong signal to investors and other nations.
In introducing the bill to the lower house, Bowen said enough time had been lost to delay action on climate change.
“It’s 89 months until 2030 – we don’t have much time to meet those goals,” Bowen said.
The legislation needs the support of the Greens and at least one other senator to pass the upper house, unless the opposition decides to support it.
But the Greens have not pledged to support the bill, saying the target is “weak” and will be unachievable unless the government also rules out approving new coal or gas projects.
Adam Bandt (above left) has not committed the Greens to supporting the climate bill out of concern that it is too weak. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
The Climate Change Minister said he would accept “sensible and good faith” suggestions but was prepared to abandon the legislation if it could not be passed.
“We’ve been very clear that this legislation is not essential, it’s desirable, it’s best practice,” Bowen told ABC News Breakfast this morning.
“We can, if you like to use those terms, leave, if absolutely essential. But that is not our intention.
“Our intention is to work cooperatively across parliament to achieve good climate laws.”
Bowen said that if the government could not legislate the emissions target, it would still stick to that standard, which was binding under the terms of the UN’s Paris climate accord.
The proposed laws would also require the Minister for Climate Change to provide annual updates on their progress towards the target, as well as requiring the Climate Change Authority to provide regular advice on updating future climate targets, but not enforces the objective.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said the government must be prepared to compromise its bill.
“There is about a third of the country voted for the government, a little less, about a third voted for the opposition and about a third voted for someone else,” said Bandt.
“Power is now shared, especially in the Senate, and we all have to work together and that means giving a little.”