2021-10-21
The Greens will take their fight for strong 2030 targets and greater protection for our environment all the way to Glasgow next month, with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced as the party’s representative at COP 26.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“If the Liberals and Labor won’t take any 2030 climate targets to Glasgow, the Greens will,” Mr Bandt said.
“Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will represent the Greens’ calls for bold cuts to emissions in this critical decade for climate action.
“Australia shouldn’t be sitting by the sidelines in talks that will determine whether our country can have a safe climate future. We shouldn’t just be listening to others talk about the bold action they will take. Our government should be there, pushing others to do better.”
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Hanson-Young said:
“While the rest of the world is talking about 2030 targets the Coalition Government is tearing itself apart over net zero by 2050," Senator Hanson-Young said.
“The National Party continues to show what an absolute farce net zero by 2050 really is. Today it’s been reported that Barnaby Joyce is now insisting on a further weakening of environment laws to clear the path for more land clearing and polluting mining projects as part of their negotiations with the Prime Minister.
“What a farce - in order to get the bare minimum of climate action in this country the Morrison Government is putting a wrecking ball through environment protection laws. Saving the environment by wrecking the environment. What a sick joke.
“Not only is Net Zero by 2050 actually too late to prevent further catastrophic climate change, according to the science, it would be impossible to achieve while new coal and gas projects keep getting approved and land clearing rates keep skyrocketing.
“At COP26 in Glasgow, the world will again be seeing images of our koalas burn in climate fires and thousands of hectares of critical habitat, forests and bushland destroyed. It’s gobsmacking that further legalised destruction of our environment and killing of our wildlife could be a trade-off for climate action.
“I’ll be making sure the rest of the world rejects Australia’s net zero by 2050 commitment, especially if it’s based on dirty deals with the climate deniers in the National Party.
“This is the critical decade for climate action. The Greens are the only party with emissions targets that the science says is needed - 75% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2035. This is the target we will advocate for at Glasgow.”