Antinuclear

South Australia’s Conservation Council slams Abbott’s climate targets

SA critical of climate targets AAP AUGUST 11, 2015 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/sa-slams-australias-climate-targets/story-fni0xqi4-1227478987565  THE federal government’s carbon emissions reduction target “is clinging to coal like a smoker to their last cigarette”, says the South Australian Conservation Council.

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott on Tuesday confirmed a reduction target by 2030 of 26-28 per cent, based on 2005 emissions levels.

But Conservation Council SA says that is not enough to limit global warming to two degrees, a goal that forms the basis of an expected agreement between almost 200 countries at a UN summit in December.”The Abbott government is clinging to coal like a smoker to their last cigarette,” chief executive Craig Wilkins said.”If all countries took such a weak position, the world would see three or four degrees of warming.”

The South Australian government also said the federal government’s target fell short of international and community expectations.”The prime minister’s own expert body, the Climate Change Authority, has recommended cuts of 40 to 60 per cent on 2000 levels by 2030,” SA Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter said.

“But today’s announcement falls well short, amounting to a 19 per cent reduction on 2000 levels.”

August 12, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News