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| Australia should cut carbon emissions faster, says François Hollande adviser | Australia should cut carbon emissions faster, says François Hollande adviser |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Abbott government should commit at the Paris climate summit to double the long-term rate at which Australia is now cutting its greenhouse gas emissions, a senior French official said. | The Abbott government should commit at the Paris climate summit to double the long-term rate at which Australia is now cutting its greenhouse gas emissions, a senior French official said. |
| According to a “provisional evaluation” based in part on United Nations figures, Australia’s current goal of reducing emissions by 5% on 2000 levels by 2020 will amount to a 20% cut by 2030 if the same trajectory is maintained, said Nicolas Hulot, a special climate envoy to French president François Hollande. | According to a “provisional evaluation” based in part on United Nations figures, Australia’s current goal of reducing emissions by 5% on 2000 levels by 2020 will amount to a 20% cut by 2030 if the same trajectory is maintained, said Nicolas Hulot, a special climate envoy to French president François Hollande. |
| “Ideally, by 2030, Australia will have to reduce by 40% its emissions on 2000 [levels],” Hulot told Australian journalists in Paris on Wednesday. | “Ideally, by 2030, Australia will have to reduce by 40% its emissions on 2000 [levels],” Hulot told Australian journalists in Paris on Wednesday. |
| The calculations were based in part on Australia’s relative contribution to the emissions that most scientists say are leading to global warming. The data was processed and published by FNH, Hulot’s own foundation, and drew on sources including the World Resources Institute, an assistant to Hulot said. | The calculations were based in part on Australia’s relative contribution to the emissions that most scientists say are leading to global warming. The data was processed and published by FNH, Hulot’s own foundation, and drew on sources including the World Resources Institute, an assistant to Hulot said. |
| Related: Australia overstating greenhouse gas forecasts, making climate targets easier | Related: Australia overstating greenhouse gas forecasts, making climate targets easier |
| The Abbott government is not expected to reveal the post-2020 emissions goals until next month after it assesses submissions from state governments, the public and other sources. | The Abbott government is not expected to reveal the post-2020 emissions goals until next month after it assesses submissions from state governments, the public and other sources. |
| The independent Climate Change Authority - which the federal government had tried to scrap - recommended in April that Australia’s “fair contribution to global climate action” to keep warming to less than 2C of pre-industrial levels would be 40-60% by 2030 compared with 2000 levels. | The independent Climate Change Authority - which the federal government had tried to scrap - recommended in April that Australia’s “fair contribution to global climate action” to keep warming to less than 2C of pre-industrial levels would be 40-60% by 2030 compared with 2000 levels. |
| Hulot, a well-known French environmentalist who ran against Hollande as The Greens candidate in the 2011 elections, said the recommended targets should be finalised by September at the United Nations. | Hulot, a well-known French environmentalist who ran against Hollande as The Greens candidate in the 2011 elections, said the recommended targets should be finalised by September at the United Nations. |
| “We want a global agreement that is legally binding and that will allow us to not go beyond the 2C limit,” he said. | “We want a global agreement that is legally binding and that will allow us to not go beyond the 2C limit,” he said. |
| About 195 nations and the European Union are expected to attend the Paris summit that is expected to start on 30 November and run for more than two weeks. | About 195 nations and the European Union are expected to attend the Paris summit that is expected to start on 30 November and run for more than two weeks. |
| Other developed countries should also make greater contributions than are already on the table, Hulot said. | Other developed countries should also make greater contributions than are already on the table, Hulot said. |
| The EU has pledged to cut 1990 levels of carbon pollution by 40% by 2030 but that goal should be raised to 50%, Hulot said. | The EU has pledged to cut 1990 levels of carbon pollution by 40% by 2030 but that goal should be raised to 50%, Hulot said. |
| The United States, too, should lift its current pledge of reducting 2005-level emissions by 26-28% by 2030 to a cut of as much as 45%, he said. | The United States, too, should lift its current pledge of reducting 2005-level emissions by 26-28% by 2030 to a cut of as much as 45%, he said. |
| China, the biggest current emitter by far, will be urged to bring forward its pledge of peaking emissions by 2030 to 2025, Hulot said. | China, the biggest current emitter by far, will be urged to bring forward its pledge of peaking emissions by 2030 to 2025, Hulot said. |
| The official, whose full title is a special envoy to the French president for the protection of the planet, said he was “saddened” by the stance on climate change taken by Prime Minister Tony Abbott. | The official, whose full title is a special envoy to the French president for the protection of the planet, said he was “saddened” by the stance on climate change taken by Prime Minister Tony Abbott. |
| Australia’s role in the run-up to Paris to secure a new climate treaty “is an essential one, whether postive or negative,” Hulot said. | Australia’s role in the run-up to Paris to secure a new climate treaty “is an essential one, whether postive or negative,” Hulot said. |
| “If Australia were not to respond postively during the meeting ... it would be a tragic signal that Australia doesn’t care very much,” he said. | “If Australia were not to respond postively during the meeting ... it would be a tragic signal that Australia doesn’t care very much,” he said. |
| Hulot acknowledged that countries such as Australia and Canada face necessary economic changees “that would be much more difficult” given their relatively high reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal. | Hulot acknowledged that countries such as Australia and Canada face necessary economic changees “that would be much more difficult” given their relatively high reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal. |
| Still, “it would be mistaken if you think prosperity and wealth will continue if we allow climate change to take hold,” he said. | Still, “it would be mistaken if you think prosperity and wealth will continue if we allow climate change to take hold,” he said. |
| On the one hand, the planet would need to feed another 1.5bn people by 2050 even without additional strains from climate change on the biosphere. On the other, renewable energy offered nations opportunities to foster growth while cutting emissions. | On the one hand, the planet would need to feed another 1.5bn people by 2050 even without additional strains from climate change on the biosphere. On the other, renewable energy offered nations opportunities to foster growth while cutting emissions. |
| “Tomorrow’s market will not be a carbon market but a non-carbon one,” he said, adding, “You can be the subject of history or you can write it.” | “Tomorrow’s market will not be a carbon market but a non-carbon one,” he said, adding, “You can be the subject of history or you can write it.” |
| • Peter Hannam is in France as a guest of the French government. | • Peter Hannam is in France as a guest of the French government. |
| Courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald |