21 DECEMBER 2018
Farmers demand answers as Australian emissions ‘canter’ on
Farmers have demanded answers as the latest release of Australia’s emissions projection data demonstrates a nation fumbling at the starting gates.
Farmers for Climate Action CEO, Verity Morgan-Schmidt slammed the report: “As expected, Australia is not on track to meet our 2030 emissions reductions targets, low as they are.
“We’ve been repeatedly told that Australia is in good hands and that we’ll meet our targets in a canter. The Government’s own data has once again proven that to be wrong,” Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.
The December 2018 emissions projections report demonstrates that by 2030, under the current mix of policies – Australia is projected to reduce emissions by only 7% on 2005 levels including land use, land use change and forestry figures. This falls a long way short of our 26-28% target.
The emissions projections were released the day after BOM and CSIRO issued the annual State of the Climate report confirming that Australia’s climate has warmed more than 1°c over the past century. This is exacerbating the frequency of extreme heat events, and rainfall is also decreasing dramatically over the southwest of the country, she said.
“This isn’t just about numbers. Climate change is already hurting Australian farmers, yet we have a Government turning their back on the single biggest threat facing our industry.
“It’s time for the Government to commit to urgent action to address climate change, including a rapid and just transition to renewable energy, and to fully fund and implement a National Strategy on Climate Change and Agriculture,” Ms Morgan-Schmidt said.
Longreach grazier Angus Emmott said the release of the 2018 emissions projections confirmed his fears.
“This is a Government that has given up on addressing climate change. As we grapple with the impacts, from extreme drought to unseasonal fire conditions, the Federal Government is determined to block the action needed to alter our dangerous trajectory.
“We need an immediate commitment to take urgent action. No more new fossil fuel developments and no underwriting of polluting and expensive coal and gas power.
“This ideological idiocy has to stop.”
Interviews available – Verity Morgan-Schmidt
