Melbourne, Sept 8 (BNA): The Australian Parliament on Thursday passed government legislation pledging to cut carbon emissions by 43% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, backed by the Greens and Independents.
According to Reuters, the law marks a first step in climate action since Labor won power in May, overcoming a conservative government scorned as globally backward in the battle against climate change.
But the government will face tougher battles in passing more environmental bills.
“The passage of the Climate Change Act sends a message to the world that Australia is serious about cutting emissions, and serious about reaping economic opportunity from affordable renewable energy,” Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in a statement.
The law sets an emissions reduction target for 2030 that is 50% more aggressive than under the previous government. It will also require government agencies such as clean energy and infrastructure financing agencies to take emissions targets into account in their decisions.
After more than a decade of uncertainty over climate policy, industry groups said they would welcome the legislation.
“Devoting policy into the legislation gives businesses and industry more clarity,” Sarah McNamara, chief executive of the Australian Energy Council, said in a statement.
While supporting the climate bill, the Greens said they would seek to block any new coal mines and natural gas projects through legislation to reform the “protection mechanism”, as Labor wants to ask the biggest industrial polluters to gradually reduce their emissions.
The “protection mechanism” covers about 215 industrial sites, including coal mines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and manufacturing plants, which together contributed 28% of emissions in 2021.
The legislation is expected next year, before the target date for implementation of July 1.
In the Senate, where Labor does not have a majority, it needs the support of the Greens and at least one independent to pass bills that the Conservatives oppose.
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