FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed the Coalition Government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so they are 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

 

“This is a responsible and achievable target. It is comparable to the targets of other developed countries and allows our economy and jobs to grow strongly” Mr Joyce said.

 

“This target builds on Australia’s excellent record. We met and beat our first Kyoto target and expect to do the same in 2020 through the Government’s Direct Action plan.”

 

“Australia is making a strong and credible contribution to the international effort to tackle climate change and our emissions intensity and emissions per person will fall further than other developed economies,”  he said.

 

Australia will halve its emissions per person and reduce these by nearly two-thirds for every dollar of GDP by 2030.

 

The Government will meet Australia’s 2030 target through policies built on the successful Direct Action plan, in particular the Emissions Reduction Fund and its Safeguard Mechanism.

 

The Emissions Reduction Fund is already achieving significant emissions reductions – with 47 million tonnes contracted at less than $14 per tonne in the first auction alone.

 

“There are many additional ways we can reduce emissions, while saving businesses and households money and lifting productivity,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“We will prioritise a National Energy Productivity Plan, working with State and Territory governments to improve energy productivity by up to 40 per cent by 2030.

 

“We will also examine opportunities for improving the efficiency of vehicles and phasing down of hydrocarbons which are potent synthetic greenhouse gases.

 

“Technology is critical to future emissions reductions efforts. To ensure that we harness this potential, we will develop a low emissions technology roadmap.  We will also develop a strategy to support the uptake and utilisation of solar power and energy efficiency.

 

Mr Joyce said the Government will begin work immediately on some measures and review Australia’s emissions reduction policies in detail in 2017-18, in close consultation with businesses and the community.

 

 “We are committed to tackling climate change without a carbon tax or an emissions trading scheme that will hike up power bills for families, pensioners and businesses,”  he said.

 

“At 26-28 per cent, Australia’s target gets the right balance between our economic and environmental responsibilities.

 

“The Government has a strong and credible target to take to Paris and Australia will work with our international partners to achieve a strong agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December,” he said.

 

Further information can be found here: www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/international