NSW to legislate emissions targets, despite dithering over coal
NSW Labor has announced it will enshrine the state’s emissions targets in law, including a 2030 target of “at least” 50%, and net zero by 2050.
The Minns government says the new bill commits the state to these targets “to provide certainty and opportunity” to households, industry and investors.
The new legislation, which delivers on an election promise, will also establish an independent Net Zero Commission to monitor the state’s progress to net zero.
The new Commission will also liaise with regional communities to ensure climate action is “informed, fair and transparent".
The move has been welcomed, but net-zero by 2050 is no longer considered an ambitious enough target to align with the Paris climate goals of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
A broad range of global climate authorities and experts are now calling for net-zero emissions targets to be fast-tracked to 2035.
Among them, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering last month called for Australia to get to net zero 15 years quicker than its current goal of 2050.
And other critics have pointed out that legislated targets are pointless if the government intervenes to keep Eraring, one of Australia’s most polluting coal plants, open longer.