Climate change groups are scaling up their campaigns against Liberal candidates in key federal seats after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton refused to commit to a 2030 target to cut greenhouse gas emissions, raising the stakes in an election fight on the environment.
Dutton said he was committed to reducing emissions to net zero levels by 2050 but would not sign up to a 2030 target or a revised 2035 target later this year, saying the Coalition policy goalCampaign donor Climate 200, which spent $6 million to help independent candidates at the last election, said Dutton’s new stance would help it win votes in Liberal electorates where voters want action on climate change.
Australian National University Professor Mark Howden said Australia would be in breach of the Paris Agreement if it abandoned the 2030 target and did not have a viable pathway to reduce emissions. Archer said the government had legislated the 2030 target and any proposal to change that target should be put to voters before the election.
“Monique Ryan is a Green. She’s not a disaffected Liberal, she’s a Green. I think she’s completely disconnected with where families are in Kooyong at the moment,” Dutton said.