The government has disclosed little about how the country, largest global exporter of coal, intends to achieve its goal.
Le Monde with AFP
It is for now a pretty declaration of intent, but nothing more. Australia announced, Tuesday, October 26, aim at zero net emission for 2050. But, a few days before the United Nations Conference on the climate, the largest exporter of coal in the world does not intend strengthen its short-term goals.
“The Australians want a 2050 plan on null net emissions that do the necessary climate change and ensures their future in a changing world,” said Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison, announcing the decision.
Little details have been disclosed on how Australia intends to achieve carbon neutrality. The plan announced by Mr. Morrison, of course, provides for the equivalent of 13 billion euros of investments, but he relies heavily on purchases of rights to pollute and technologies considered by the experts as not yet proven.
In addition, Mr. Morrison refused to significantly reinforce the Australian emission reduction targets for 2030, considered crucial to significantly combat climate change.
Support to the mining industry. and gas
Australia has already agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 26% to 28% by 2030 from the 2005 levels. Mr. Morrisson merely asserted Tuesday that his Country “will reach [IT] and 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 objective 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 or in agriculture, nor in the mines, nor in the gas,” he assured.
“We will not let us take the lesson by others who do not understand Australia. The Australian method is how we do things, and not if we are going to do it. It’s about it. ‘Arrive there, “he had previously wrote in a text released by his office.
widely regarded as a reporter in climate, Australia is the largest global exporter of coal, on which a large portion of its electricity production is based, and has long resisted the adoption of a goal of Carbon neutrality.
The commitment for 2050 occurs only a few days before the departure of Mr. Morrison for the United Nations Climate Summit Cop26, which will be held next month in Glasgow.
Flareuvres?
Canberra has been the subject of increasing criticism so as not to have acted earlier, including from his relatives Allied, the United States and Great Britain, as well as its island neighbors of the Pacific, very vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
m. Morrison did not reveal the details of the plan or the concessions made to its partners within its government coalition, long dominated by the climatosceptics and the interests of the coal sector, after weeks of internal negotiations tense.
Confronted in recent years at droughts, fires and repetitive floods, Australians are more aware of the dangers of global warming. According to a survey published earlier this year by the Lowy Institute, 78% support a target of carbon neutrality in 2050, and 63% approve a prohibition of new coal mines in their country.
The pressures of public opinion and the international community have “rendered less and less viable for the coalition to cling to its denial position” global warming, told the France-Presse agency ( AFP) Mark Kenny, Professor at the Institute of Australian Studies in Canberra. But, according to Kenny, the commitments announced Tuesday by Australia “are insignificant in reality. I think that if the world takes it seriously, it will have swallowed a beautiful snake”.