2016-01-28
The Australian Greens are concerned Labor is using consultations with business as an excuse to water down its climate pollution reduction targets.
"There's no arguing with the science, which is clear on the need for deep pollution cuts to avoid catastrophic global warming and economic shocks," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.
"Labor's current draft target for 2030 is at the bottom of the range proposed by the Climate Change Authority for a two-thirds chance of avoiding 2 degrees warming
"After the world agreed in Paris to aim to keep warming below 1.5 degrees, Labor's two thirds chance of 2 degrees is bad odds.
"Labor must not use consultations with business as an excuse to water down its already moderate level of ambition.
"The conversation that should be happening with industry is about how to support workers and create the jobs of the future as we transition to the clean energy economy.
"While consultations with business may be useful on finding ways to achieve targets, targets must be set based on science.
"Just because the Liberal Government's targets are so woefully inadequate, Labor must not stoop to scaling back its moderate targets," Senator Waters said.
The Australian Greens' pollution reduction targets are 60-80% cuts on 2000 levels by 2030 (63-82% on 2005 levels), and net zero pollution by 2040.
The Climate Change Authority's proposed targets are 40-60% cuts on 2000 levels by 2030 (45-63% on 2005 levels).