A Climate Change Of Heart? Government Set To Cut Carbon Emissions By 2030

In June, Pope Francis warned against climate change inaction in a mike-dropping papal document that described Earth as “an immense pile of filth.”

Well, he poped and Australia listened, because the Federal Government is about to unveil a proposal that would see carbon emissions cut by at least 26 per cent – based on 2005 levels – by 2030.

According to ABC News, that figure could grow to 28 per cent depending on the economic impact of their proposal. (A 26 per cent cut would similarly cut economic output by 0.02 per cent by the end of the target period. Sources tell The Australian that this would result in a $660 million reduction in the size of Australia’s economy by 2030.)

The proposal will be discussed in a meeting of Coalition MPs today, before it is decided as official policy.

Though it marks a move in the right direction, Tim Flannery of the Climate Council is not totally sold by the pledge. Speaking with The Australian, he described the target is “vastly inadequate,” insisting that “30 per cent on 2000 levels by 2030 is the bare minimum.”

Australia currently holds the more modest goal of reducing emissions by 5 per cent – based on levels from the year 2000 - with the goalposts sitting at 2020.

The decision to change the base year from 2000 to 2005 is to make our emissions easier to compare with the United States and Canada; this’ll help when the proposal is brought to an international meeting in Paris at the end of 2015, with the intention of reaching a global agreement on emissions reductions.

USA is aiming to reduce their carbon emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2025, and 83 per cent by 2050. Both figures are based on 2005 levels.

What say you? Is Australia doing enough to combat climate change?