So far it’s a nice declaration of intent, but nothing more. Australia announced Tuesday, October 26, to target net zero emissions for 2050. But, a few days before the United Nations (UN) climate conference, the world’s largest coal exporter has no intention of to strengthen its short-term goals.
“Australians want a 2050 net zero emissions plan that tackles climate change and secures their future in a changing world”, Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as he announced the decision.
Few details have been released on how Australia plans to achieve carbon neutrality. The plan announced by Mr. Morrison certainly provides for the equivalent of 13 billion euros in investments, but it is largely based on purchases of rights to pollute and technologies considered by experts as not yet having been proven.
In addition, Mr Morrison refused to significantly bolster Australia’s emissions reduction targets for 2030, seen as crucial to significantly tackling climate change.
Support for the mining and gas industry
Australia has already agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 26% to 28% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Morrisson simply said on Tuesday that his country “Will reach[it] and will beat[it] “ this objective, now predicting a reduction of 30% to 35%.
The Australian Prime Minister also reaffirmed his support for the mining and gas industry. The goal of carbon neutrality for 2050 “Will not stop our production of coal or gas, nor our exports”, he said at a press conference. “It will not cost any jobs in agriculture, mining or gas”, he assured.
“We will not be lectured by others who do not understand Australia. The Australian way is how you do things, not if you are going to do them. It’s about getting there ”, he had previously written in a text made public by his office.
Widely regarded as a climate laggard, Australia is the world’s largest exporter of coal, on which much of its electricity generation relies, and has long resisted adopting a carbon neutral goal.
The commitment to 2050 comes just days before Mr Morrison leaves for the UN climate summit COP26, to be held next month in Glasgow.
Snakes?
Canberra has come under increasing criticism for failing to act sooner, including from close allies the United States and Britain, as well as its Pacific island neighbors, who are highly vulnerable to the effects. of climate change.
Morrison did not disclose the details of the plan or the concessions made to his partners within his governing coalition, long dominated by climate skeptics and coal industry interests, after weeks of tense internal negotiations.
Confronted with repeated droughts, fires and floods in recent years, Australians are increasingly aware of the dangers of global warming. According to a poll released earlier this year by the Lowy Institute, 78% support a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and 63% would approve a ban on new coal mines in their country.
Pressure from public opinion and the international community has “Made it less and less viable for the coalition to cling to its position of denial” global warming, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) Mark Kenny, a professor at the Institute for Australian Studies in Canberra. But, according to Kenny, the commitments announced on Tuesday by Australia “Are insignificant in reality. I think that if the world takes it seriously, it will have swallowed a beautiful snake ”.