PM’s credibility being questioned

The tears from Britain’s COP26 president Alok Sharma were barely dry before Australia announced it had no intention of changing its 2030 target.

The target has been a point of contention with experts warning action must be taken in the next decade if the world is to have any chance of limiting global warming to 1.5C.

Climate Council chief executive officer Amanda McKenzie said the text of the Glasgow Climate Pact was “very clear” in wanting countries like Australia, which have not updated their 2030 targets, to do so by next year.

“There’s always careful language in diplomatic text but the intent was very clear,” she said.

“Countries were expected to come to this COP with stronger 2030 targets and those who did not fulfil this have been given an extra 12 months, and are expected to come back next year.

“It is incorrect for the Morrison Government to say that they don’t have to do anything more, they obviously do.”

Less than 24 hours after the Glasgow conference ended, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said in a joint statement with Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor that “Australia’s 2030 target is fixed”.

Mr Morrison also appeared to rule out a more ambitious 2030 target, telling reporters on Monday: “I’ve been very clear about what our target is”.

Mr Morrison said all that happened at COP26 climate change conference was that countries “noted a request to revisit these things”.

But Labor leader Anthony Albanese criticised the Morrison Government for walking away from the agreement.

“They signed up to that, and then they walked away from it,” Mr Albanese said.

“Why is it that when it comes to Scott Morrison, what he says yesterday doesn’t matter today?”

Australia Institute climate and energy program director Richie Merzian agreed that Australia had “walked away” from the agreement.

“It technically is (walking away),” Mr Merzian told news.com.au. “They either entered into this dishonestly with no intention of honouring it, or they are reading it in a way that other countries wouldn’t.”

Mr Merzian said it was “indefensible” not to revisit the 2030 target as specifically requested under the Glasgow pact.

“It harms Australia’s credibility and reputation,” he said. “It provides further evidence that Australia lacks good faith … and further cements Australia’s reputation as a country that wants to get away with doing as little as possible on climate action.

“What makes this worse is that Australia was bragging on the world stage about its ability to beat its target but is refusing to commit to doing so.

“It’s not even that hard for Australia to do this (reduce emissions), that’s why it stings so much.”

‘It’s embarrassing’ for Australia

The Glasgow Climate Pact “urges parties that have not yet communicated new or updated nationally determined contributions to do so as soon as possible” ahead of the next meeting in Egypt next year.

It also notes that the Paris Agreement requested countries to “revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets” to align with the goal to keep global warming to well under 2C, and preferably to 1.5C.

Ms McKenzie said it was awful to think that Australia was being portrayed as a country that was not true to its word.

“I think it’s embarrassing for us to say on the international stage at COP that we will do more, and then come home and say, ‘no we are not going to do anything more on climate’.”

She said the government would likely face continuing pressure from other countries to update its 2030 target.

“Nothing is fixed in politics, not too long ago the government said they’d never have a net zero by 2050 target,” she said.

“Pressure is only increasing. (At COP26) Australia faced huge pressure, including from the United States and Europe. Australians also want action — businesses and the community want action.

“(The 2030 target) is certainly not fixed. At any time the government can set up its 2030 target and that’s certainly what we are pushing for.”

‘Projections are useless’

Countries including the United States and United Kingdom have released ambitious goals to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.

Australia is one of a few hold-outs including Turkey that have not set new targets.

The Prime Minister says Australia’s projections show it is on track to “meet and beat” its official target of a 26-28 per cent reduction compared to 2005 levels, but it is not budging when it comes to a more ambitious commitment.

Instead it has put forward projections that it is expecting to see emissions fall by 30-35 per cent by 2030.

Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has also refused to back a change to the 2030 target.

“The Nationals have clearly stated that they’re not changing the 2030 target. We’ve been honest and upfront about that,” Mr Joyce told ABC’s Radio National on Tuesday.

Mr Merzian said putting forward projections was not enough.

“Projections are useless because you cannot bank on them, you can’t say confidently that we will reduce emissions. It needs to be based on commitments, on something concrete and accountable,” he said.

The dispute over the “fixed” 2030 target is the latest issue to call into question Mr Morrison’s credibility, which has been in focus ever since French President Emmanuel Macron accused him of being a liar, following the abrupt dumping of Australia’s submarine contract with the French.

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull further fanned the flames, saying Mr Morrison had a “reputation for telling lies”.

Last week Labor criticised Mr Morrison for lying about its electric vehicle policy and that it would hike up petrol prices, to justify a U-turn on the government’s own policy.

An exclusive Newspoll commissioned by The Australian and published on Tuesday, showed Mr Morrison now trails Anthony Albanese on traits of trust, likability, caring and understanding the major issues of concern for most Australians.

He retains his lead as being a more experienced and decisive leader and one with a vision for Australia, although the difference between the two leaders has narrowed.