'Digging a hole': Shorten won't rule out use of Paris climate shortcut | p_hannam
Labor leader Bill Shorten says the Morrison government's plan to use of carbon credits generated before 2020 to count towards Australia's Paris climate goal exploits a "technical loophole" - but one he won't rule out using if the ALP wins office in May.
Emissions plans remain hazy, with Labor not ruling out a plan to count Kyoto carbon credits against Australia's Paris climate target.The Morrison government confirmed last week it intended to carry over the credits, effectively slashing the abatement effort by more than half the Paris abatement effort from 695 million tonnes to 328 million tonnes.
RichieMerzian, climate and energy program director at The Australia Institute, and a former Australian climate negotiator, said Australia was the only OECD nation holding on "tightly to our credits".While not explicitly ruled out, the use of Kyoto credits went against the spirit of the Paris accord, he said.Germany, the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands were among nations to cancel unilaterally the types of surplus Australia is planning to use.
The Abbott government's Paris pledge was to reduce 2005-level carbon pollution 26-28 per cent by 2030. Labor has promised to lift that target to 45 per cent if elected.
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