INACTION NOT AN OPTION: IPCC REPORT

Media Release

Mark Butler MP.

Shadow Minister for Environment

 Climate Change and Water

Date:  14 April 2014

Federal Labor is calling on the Abbott Government to abandon its plan for inaction on climate change in response to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Governments around the world are being urged to take stronger action on climate change in the latest report from the IPCC Working Group III.

The Report reinforces that the best way for Australia to contribute is to put a legal cap on carbon pollution under an emissions trading scheme, coupled with a strong suite of renewable energy policies.

“The Abbott Government has consistently ignored expert advice about the impending risks of climate change. Labor built a comprehensive policy framework to address the exact risks identified in the IPCC report, Tony Abbott is hell bent on unravelling it.”

“All of the experts agree that Tony Abbott’s joke of a policy won’t reduce pollution. It is a plan for inaction - a ‘do-nothing’ approach, which flies in the face of expert advice.”

The IPCC report focuses on the importance of governments taking stronger action through changes to energy policy and increased clean energy options such as renewables. Australia is well placed to build on our solar, wind and more recently, wave technologies.

The existing Renewable Energy Target, where renewable energy will account for at least 20 per cent of Australia’s energy generation by 2020, is just part of a suite of comprehensive policies needed to take Australia towards a clean energy future. Already, the industry has attracted around $18 billion of investment across the country and is expected to see another $18 billion through the life of the Renewable Energy Target.

“Labor remains committed to the international goal of avoiding 2°C warming,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change Mark Butler said today.

“And Labor’s policies have been working. In its first year, the Clean Energy Future Package drove a reduction in carbon pollution of 7 per cent from electricity generation in the National Electricity Market,” Mr Butler said.

“It saw the share of renewable energy in the National Energy Market increase by 25 per cent; it delivered a Household Assistance Package that left millions of Australians better off financially after the introduction of the carbon price; and it supported continued economic growth, with over 160,000 jobs created across the economy, including clean energy jobs.”

“Labor’s Renewable Energy Target is driving investment in the sector, creating jobs and reducing Australia’s carbon pollution,” Mr Butler said.

“In its place, Tony Abbott and Greg Hunt are trying to introduce Direct Action, a deeply flawed, short-term tokenistic policy that pays big polluters to keep polluting.”

“Tony Abbott is attempting to scrap the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and has flagged funding cuts to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.”

“This is another example of the twisted priorities of Tony Abbott’s government.”

“Tony Abbott has consistently questioned the legitimacy of climate science and the evidence presented by 97 per cent of the world’s scientists. He is not showing the leadership Australia needs to address climate change.”

“Australia needs to fall back into step with the rest of the world to make the right choices about our future. Inaction is not an option!”