<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/business-lobby-calls-for-weak-2035-emissions-target-even-as-key-members-warn-of-climate-calamity/>
"Australia’s biggest business lobby group has issued a call for the federal
government to set a weak 2035 emissions reduction target, despite some of its
own key member organisations aiming for net zero by that date and warning of
“climate-driven market failure.”
Australia is overdue to set its next Nationally Determined Contribution under
the Paris Agreement in 2025 – an emissions reduction target for 2035 that will
sit somewhere between the 2030 target of 43% below 2005 and the ultimate goal
of net zero emissions by 2050.
In a submission to the Productivity Commission, the Australian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has warned against aiming too high on the 2035
target, when it says the 2030 target is “becoming increasingly challenging” and
“slipping out of reach.”
“Were the government to set a more ambitious 2035 NDC, ACCI would be greatly
concerned about the impact on the productivity, competitiveness and viability
of Australian businesses, as well as the cost to the taxpayer,” the submission
says.
“ACCI contend that the 2035 NDC should be set at a level that is realistic,
reasonable and achievable without imposing overly tight constraints and
excessively high costs on Australian business or the taxpayer.”
Under the terms of the Paris Agreement, Australia had been expected to set a
2035 emissions target by the end of 2024.
Part of the delay has been waiting for the advice from the Climate Change
Authority (CCA), which has in turn been waiting to factor in the outcomes of
the Australian election in May and the fallout from the change of government in
the US at the end of 2024.
The absolute baseline guidance for 2035 targets is that they should align with
limiting warming to 1.5°C, but they are also expected to factor in a country’s
“fair share” of the global effort and ramp up ambition enough to put the world
well on track to reach net zero by 2050.
For example, the Victorian government has set a state 2035 target of 75-80%
below 2005 levels. The UK’s 2035 NDC target, announced at COP29 in November
2024, is to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels.
Last year, the CCA CEO Brad Archer said evidence was indicating a target for
Australia in the range of 65% to 75% below 2005 levels would be ambitious, “but
could be achievable if additional action is taken by governments, business,
investors and households.”
But according to a report in
The Australian on Tuesday ACCI chief Andrew
McKellar says such a target would be “exceedingly challenging” for business to
endure.
“Anything in that range would be exceedingly challenging for the Australian
economy,” McKellar told
The Australian. “We would see the risk with a target
that was in that range, it probably would entail significant adjustment costs
across the economy.”
But as the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) points out, an outcome that
would entail much more significant adjustment costs across the economy – and on
many other devastating levels – is dangerous global warming."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
