A senior economist says he is optimistic the Federal Government will show courage in setting a more ambitious carbon emission reduction target.
The Australian National University’s Dr Frank Jotzo has been researching the targets set by other countries following the Copenhagen Accord last year, which did not produce an internationally binding agreement on emissions.
Dr Jotzo says his work supports increasing Australia’s reduction target from 5 to 15 per cent.
“It puts the targets and pledges put forward by the different countries onto a common footing so they can be compared,” he said.
“If we want to match or see the kind of ambition that we are now beginning to see from developing countries then there is every reason to go for a target that is more ambitious than the 5 per cent target that is already on the table.”
He says he will be pushing for the increase as part of community consultations.
“We are in a very different political situation on this than we were, even two to three months ago,” he said.
“The prospects will be a lot better now than they did just before the election for sensible climate policy to be decided in the short to medium-term. So I think we have reason to be optimistic on that front.”
