Some of the nation’s most carbon-intensive businesses are opening the door to Labor’s plan to force major industrial polluting facilities to reduce their carbon footprint as environmental groups criticise the party for failing to pledge more action to reduce global warming.over the next decade, starting from 2005 level of emissions, which is 8 per cent higher than the federal government’s 2030 projected reductions under its technology road map policy.
The Australian Aluminium Council welcomed Labor’s commitment to consult with industry and said its members wanted “transparent, stable and predictable” national climate policy.Coal-fired power plant owner AGL said in response to Labor’s policy that “collaboration between governments and industry is critical” and called for reforms that “focused on an orderly transition” while supporting existing industry.
The opposition’s climate change and energy spokesman, Chris Bowen, told the National Press Club on Monday this would deliver the bulk of emissions reduction under his policy, and he expected broad industry co-operation because two-thirds of the companies with facilities registered under the Safeguard Mechanism had already committed to reach net zero emissions.
Farmers can generate carbon credits by growing new vegetation on their land to sequester carbon, and they can sell the credits earned to companies that want to offset their emissions, which would include businesses affected by Labor’s policy.
ScottMorrisonMP