AS AUSTRALIA approaches adopting a net zero emissions target, Deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has urged the prime minister to address critical concerns on how the move should be achieved without undermining the nation’s economy.
All eyes have settled on the resource-rich country ahead of the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, where it is expected Prime Minister Scott Morrison will overturn Australia’s stance of being one of the only nations without a hard net zero emissions target.
- Mr Joyce handed Mr Morrison a set of requirements on Thursday, which were deemed by the National Party to be critical prior to settling on the policy. He
- China continues to commission new coal-fired power generation.
Mr Joyce handed Mr Morrison a set of requirements on Thursday, which were deemed by the National Party to be critical prior to settling on the policy.
He and other Nationals members had previously raised concerns that legislating a net zero target without concrete planning could profoundly impact industry and energy security.
GLASGOW
Mr Morrison told reporters the decision would be made early next week before attending the climate conference in Glasgow, beginning on October 31.
“I expect to see some further information today, and we’ll work through that and determine what we’ll take forward to cabinet next week,” Mr Morrison said.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg reassured that the decision would not sacrifice Australia’s industries.
“It’s not a binary choice between a strong economy and a lower-emissions future. We can have both. That’s our plan,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.
While Mr Joyce had earlier conceded the decision would ultimately be at the discretion of Mr Morrison, Nationals members warned that refusing to adhere to the advice would spell discord within the coalition.
DIVIDED
Opinion across Australia has been divided on the legislation of a net zero target, with Australia’s production of just over 1 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide inciting worry that efforts of cutting emissions will have no impact on climate.
This comes in contrast to China, whose president, Xi Jinping, has yet to confirm his attendance at the climate conference despite the communist-ruled nation producing 27 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said Australia’s, and other democratic countries, transition to net zero would directly weaken them against a growing threat from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) – with China itself continuing to commission new coal-fired power generation for use until 2040.
Mr Canavan also said the transition to net zero could severely undermine regional jobs and industry, with “net zero” requiring the offset of emissions produced from hard-to-abate industries.
“This means people who build mines, grow food or construct an airstrip will have to pay other people to plant trees or do something else to offset their emissions,” Mr Canavan wrote in an article.
“And that is why it hurts regional Australia more than anywhere else. To grow our country towns, we need people to build dams, mines and airports. Compared to the cities, who already have these things, we will be at a permanent disadvantage.”
Mr Canavan also criticised the growing dependence on hydrogen as an emissions-free form of energy, given the technology has not been adequately developed for commercial use.
MISUNDERSTANDING
Meanwhile, Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie pointed to a misunderstanding in net zero proponents’ push to create tens of thousands of jobs in the renewable energy industry.
“The reality is though that once they have been constructed, there isn’t long-term, ongoing careers in those renewable energy generation spaces at the moment,” she told the ABC.
However, the Australian climate change communications organisation, the Climate Council, has continued to lobby for accelerated emissions reduction efforts from the government in light of a recent report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
On Thursday, the Climate Council released its report tracking Australia’s record and commitments for climate change against developed countries, finding that Australia is the “worst performing when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and moving beyond fossil fuels.”
The report found that emissions in heavy emitting sectors grew, with electricity emissions increasing by around a third since 1990 and transport emissions growing by more than half.
The Climate Council had already called upon the government last month to adhere to suggestions presented in the IPCC report amid calls from the public, businesses, and other government members.
Climate Council spokesperson and Emeritus Professor at Australian National University Will Steffen suggested Australia should follow the lead of the United States and other nations in reducing emissions.
“The United States has pledged billions in new climate financing for developing nations, and China announced it will stop financing international coal power stations. This sets the tone for what’s expected of all countries in the lead up to the next major U.N. climate talks,” Prof Steffen said.
The Climate Council also says that the science demands Australia fast track climate change efforts and instead reduce emissions by 75 per cent (below 2005 levels) by 2030 and reach net zero by 2035.PC
“Scotty” was never a marketing executive before entering Parliament as an MP.
But I strongly suspect that he could have been a used car salesman.
Net zero emissions based on yet to be invented and developed new technology is like a pilot in the early days of commercial aircraft telling passengers to jump before the aircraft crashes, and trying to make them feel better saying not to worry parachutes will probably be invented one day in the future.
First and foremost, back to the beginning and demand debate between qualified scientists about natural climate changing that is Earth Cycles since time began, many warmer periods when life flourishes, cold periods when life is hardly worth living even if survival is possible compared to the political climate and warming hoax modelling using creative accounting methods to obtain the desired scare tactic false evidence that is not debatable, according to the UN IPCC, because they say the science is settled.
Science is never settled.
For some time now a new cooling cycle has been detected including by NASA satellites, a grand solar minimum, a decline in activity that indicates cooler conditions to come but unlike the warming hoaxer’s claim predicting the timing accurately is not possible.
No wonder the IPCC and hangers on, crony capitalists seeking wealth creation, and other fellow travellers are nervous and demanding binding agreement now on net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. Once their deception becomes obvious as weather changes they know their game is over.
Yes, climate changes but humans cannot control it however humans do contribute to CO2 in the atmosphere if that was a problem, but natural emissions are far greater and at this time 410 ppm (0.041%) in the atmosphere is too little for comfort, CO2 is essential for life on this planet, and more CO2 produces higher food crop and other plant yields.
BJ is a disappointment as is the National party generally (Canavan, Stoker and for God-sake do not leave Christensen, apart). There are also a few libs who mount arguments against the global warming garbage and the even more garbage of renewables, Rennick especially. But the majority of the LNP seem on-board with this zero emission crap. It’s as though they live in a world where they are incapable of learning from the past. How many times do the punters have to tell the LNP that they want coal, jobs and do not want green and woke stuff from the LNP. Think 2019 when Scomo won because of coal, the 2021 by-election in the Upper Hunter and WA fiasco when the LNP went completely green and was reduced to 3 members.
How many times do they have to learn this lesson: the electorate wants the conservatives to be conservatives and not pale imitations of the left and green ratbags.
But here they again going completely green bonkers; anyone with half a brain knows global warming is a UN sponsored scam and renewables do not work but Scomo will sign up and the Nats will let him.
Vote PHON.
Australia used to be the ‘lucky country’ and has become the ‘dumb country’ being run by carpetbaggers, cowards and traitors.
“The Lucky Country” description was about Australia becoming prosperous despite the politicians.
But imagine how wealthy this country might have been by now if politicians and unelected United Nations officials had not interfered, had not signed treaties and agreements ignoring constitutional laws including referendums with legislation and regulations to lock up minerals and energy, ban new dams, bans on logging, bans on commercial fishing resulting in seafood imports as trawlers were compensated as they lost their licences, renewable energy and gradually remove reliable supply and cheap electricity generated by power stations, and all the other economic vandalism.
Even banning nuclear energy and many applications to mine uranium reserves, our common wealth locked up.
Now that covid (scam demic) has had the desired effect over many the power mad politicians have ceased onto another fear mongering agenda and think they can politicise the climate and hold that over all now as well ??? It seems far too many want to be scared and lulled into these slumbers via politicians and scammers who have no actual facts or evidence of any of them . Covid never been proven to exist? ( Yes they were working on gain of function) but it never got to its finished stage and leaked and thus run with the fear campaign and empower big Pharma . Well there left energy moguls are do the same here . Cripple us all at their own gain.Climate is determined by the latitude and altitude of nation , thus the climate in Singapore will be different to the climate in Australia . Weather is forecast and not able to be predicted accurately . Morrison will say anything for a vote , so we all must vote the big two out .
Gutless Joyce has proved yet again the Nationals are nothing more than the Liberal’s poodles. He could have stood up against the medical tyranny going on, he didn’t, he could have stood up against the gross over reaction to the WuFlu, he didn’t. He could have stood up for Australian’s human and civil rights and freedoms, he didn’t. He hasn’t stood up for anything, certainly not the Australian people, definitely not the Bush. More and more it is apparent The Nationals are irrelevant. Time for the minor parties to step and, and they will, and do very well, against the four posted duopoly that has failed Australia completely.
“AS AUSTRALIA approaches adopting a net zero emissions target, Deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has urged the prime minister to address critical concerns on how the move should be achieved without undermining the nation’s economy.”
For his next trick, Barnaby will douse himself with petrol and set himself on fire. (It’s all right though, he won’t get hurt, because the Nationals are going to get another seat in cabinet).