Government warming to tougher greenhouse gas emissions targets

M

urmurings by the Abbott Government of tougher greenhouse gas emissions targets is encouraging, but still fall short of what is needed.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that “The Abbott government is weighing tougher emissions reduction targets for the post-2020 period than conservatives in cabinet had wanted in a move that would restore Australia to the international mainstream on climate change policy and challenge the Prime Minister's reputation as a global warming denier.”

“Fairfax Media understands the push for a more urgent approach, which could see Australia running with Canada and the US who have both announced stronger targets than expected, is coming from within the government and is aimed at cutting Australia's greenhouse emissions more rapidly, perhaps by as much as 24 to 28 per cent by 2030,” the newspaper reports.

Although this appears a marked change of heart for the Abbott Government, it is still an inadequate target in the view of those conscious of what is really needed if the world’s climate is to be stabilized.

Read the Sydney Morning Herald story - “Climate change: Prime Minister Tony Abbott warming to bigger greenhouse cuts”.