Australia passed historic law
Australia is deeply affected by climate change. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison was heavily criticized for his shy approach. His successor, Anthony Albanese, wants to do better according to the law.
Australia’s new climate change law has removed the last hurdle: Liddell Power Station (L) and Bayswater Power Station, a coal-fired thermal power station. (icon picture)
Photo: Mark Baker (Keystone)
Australia’s new climate protection law clears the last hurdle: After the House of Representatives, the Senate in the capital Canberra also voted in favor of the law on Thursday, with the country setting its climate goals for the next few years.
“For nearly a decade, Australia stumbled from one policy measure to another,” wrote Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Secretary Chris Bowen. “Our economy (…) has lost billions of dollars in public and private investment in clean energy. But today that is changing.”
The new Labor government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which has been in office since May, seeks to tackle the crisis after years of hesitation by the previous Conservative government. (June 10, 2022)
Photo: Mark Baker (Keystone)
The most important point is emissions reduction: by 2030, Australia wants to save 43 percent of climate-damaging CO2 gases compared to 2005, with the continent to be completely emissions-free by 2050. Climate Minister Bowen is to report progress and setbacks to lawmakers in an annual report.
The Red Continent is always the scene of extreme weather events, which may intensify due to climate change. Therefore, climate legislation is considered a landmark. Prime Minister Albanese’s Labor government, which has been in office since May, had already put climate policy high on the agenda during the election campaign. Orthodox predecessor of Albanese Scott Morrison stood out in climate politics because of his shy attitude And the proximity to the climate-damaging coal industry has also been criticized internationally.
However, the new prime minister does not want to stop fossil fuel projects for the time being, because, in his opinion, it would have a “disastrous effect on the Australian economy”.
In early August, a majority in the House of Representatives discussed the bill and passed it after making some changes. Despite some formalities that still follow, the law is now considered adopted. As soon as Governor General David Hurley gives his “royal assent” as the Queen’s deputy, a purely ceremonial act, the law will go into effect.
sda/aru
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