Article author:
Associated Press
Rod Mcguirk
Canberra, Australia (AP) — Australia's new government on Monday blamed the previous administration's omissions on climate change and increased its greenhouse gas emissions. Was finally blamed. Year.
Australia emitted 488 million tons (538 million US tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent gas last year, 0.8% from 2020, or 4.1 million tons (4.1 million tons). 4.5 million US tons) increased. To update the government's national greenhouse gas inventory for the December quarter announced on Monday.
The cause of the increase was a 4% increase in transport emissions due to the relaxation of the pandemic travel ban, years over a wide area of southeastern Australia. This includes a 4.2% increase in agricultural emissions as the drought ended in the rain.
Climate change minister Chris Bowen, who came to power in the centre-left Labor Party in last month's elections, said the former conservative coalition relied on COVID-19 and drought towards the end of nine years. He accused him of achieving emission reductions. In power.
"With the resumption of more normal economic activity, continued recovery from drought, and increased activity in the manufacturing and resource sectors, the previous administration refused and delayed by increasing emissions along the way. We closed the record, "said Bowen's statement.
Workers were elected with the promise of reducing Australia's emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030. By the end of the decade, it had been reduced by 28%.
Some minor parties and independent lawmakers are calling for stronger action to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Australia achieved a 21.4% reduction by the end of last year, according to the latest data released on Monday.
Ted O'Brien, an opposition spokesman for climate change, said Australia's emissions were lower than when the Labor Party last came to power from 2007 to 2013.
O'Brien achieves his goals while achieving economic growth with cheaper electricity from the new government.
Climate Council think tank senior researcher Tim Baxter said Australia's emissions will increase further this year before the new government's more effective policies show results. I expected it.
"It will take some time for this kind of policy to pass," Baxter said. "They may be stronger, but Labor has some steps to start bending the curve."
The council is funded by public funds abolished in 2013 by the former government. It is a non-profit organization with independent funds on behalf of the institution, Climate Commission.
The Council recommends that Australia reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2035. The government's net zero target is 2050.
News on rising greenhouse gas emissions in Australia was announced as a climate activist Group Blockade Australia by closing the downtown Sydney Harbor Tunnel during peak traffic on Monday morning. We have launched a week-long turmoil campaign in Sydney.
Traffic had to be rerouted over the Sydney Harbor Bridge for about an hour.
Police have arrested 11 demonstrators, including a woman who parked her car across the southbound lane of the tunnel and attached her neck to the handle with a lock and chain, officials said. rice field.
New South Wales police aide Paul Danstan blamed the actions of 50 to 60 demonstrators.
"The actions of this group were nothing more than criminal acts," said Danstan.
"You can't throw a bike, throw a trash can, or throw anything else on a police road, a media road, or a road of innocent people just passing by. In New South Wales. People are unacceptable and can't do that, "he added.
Blockade Australia's protester, Sally-Ann Brown, said that confusion was needed because policymakers hadn't listened.
"Today I felt the public wasn't upset and the police were upset," Brown said.