Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has insisted the Australian government will remain committed to tackling climate change regardless of Donald Trump’s policies.
The president-elect has been very expressive about what you think climate changecalling it a “hoax” and “one of the great scams of all time.”
He dismantled nearly 100 climate policies in his first term as president in 2016 and environmentalists fear he will go even further in his second administration.
He is likely to try to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, which aims to keep the global average temperature below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, for the second time.
Trump has also told his supporters of his plans to “drill, baby, drill” by massively increasing American oil and gas production.
Bowen admitted on Wednesday that the Labor government “doesn’t know yet” what Trump will do, but insisted he will not alter Australia’s course.
“The election of a new president does not change some fundamental things, regardless of the approach he takes,” Bowen said. ABC 7.30 on Wednesday night.
‘The fundamentals that the world will continue to warm and we must act – point one.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has insisted the Australian government will remain committed to fighting climate change regardless of Donald Trump’s policies.
‘Point two, the economics of renewable energy are very strong and it is our national interest to adopt it and expand renewable energy.
‘And third point, the United States is responsible for just over 10 percent of global emissions. Does that mean the rest of the 90 percent of us no longer care even if the United States withdraws its actions?
‘No, it’s not like that. “That’s not our approach, it won’t be our approach and it’s not the approach of most of your international counterparts that I’m talking to.”
Mr Bowen’s upbeat attitude comes ahead of the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan this weekend.
‘When I talk to international colleagues, no one says “we gave up.” “There are some people in every internal debate who hold that, there are people in Australia who hold that,” Mr Bowen told the programme.
‘Even if a major power withdraws, that may be a moment for middle powers to step forward and continue to advocate for action. “That’s what I’ll do, that’s what Australia will do.”
He added that other “middle powers” such as Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom will do the same.
However, Bowen declined to set a date for when the Albanese government will announce Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target under the Paris climate agreement.
The deadline is February, but Bowen has repeatedly refused to be asked whether he will reveal a target before the next federal election.
Donald Trump dismantled nearly 100 climate policies in his first term as president in 2016, and environmentalists fear he will go even further in his second administration.
Some have pointed out that this is because the main issue likely to dominate the election is the cost of living crisis and the government does not want to risk appearing more focused on climate goals that have no discernible impact in the short term. the voters. -term lives.
This is exacerbated by the fact that opposition leader Peter Dutton has stated that he will not announce the 2035 target before the election and his lobby for nuclear energy, a policy favored by Trump.
Professor Michelle Grattan, esteemed journalist and senior political correspondent for The conversationargued that Bowen faced threats from all sides over the 2035 goal.
“A bold target would make the government more vulnerable, just when Labor would want to draw attention to the Coalition’s problematic nuclear policy,” Professor Grattan wrote.
“On the other hand, if the goal were modest, the Greens would take advantage of it.”