Climate Target Faces Broad Political Opposition as Critics Question Government's Environmental Commitment
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The Albanese government's 62% to 70% emissions reduction target for 2035 encountered fierce resistance from across the political spectrum, with Independent Senator David Pocock calling it unscientific while Greens leader Larissa Waters condemned it as a "shameful capitulation" to fossil fuel corporations and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley questioned its credibility and cost.
The coordinated criticism from multiple political parties highlighted the challenging position facing the government as it attempts to balance environmental ambitions with economic considerations following the announcement of its climate commitments.
Pocock delivered some of the strongest criticism, arguing the target fails to align with scientific recommendations and business expectations for climate action.
"The 2035 target is not in line with the science of protecting the people and places we love," Pocock said. "It's not ambitious enough to allow us to go to the world stage and to push the rest of the world, to push big emitters to do better."
The independent senator emphasized that over 500 businesses had endorsed a 75% reduction target by 2035, suggesting the government ignored substantial private sector support for more ambitious climate action.
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Greens Condemn Corporate Influence
Waters launched a scathing attack on the government's climate credentials, characterizing the target as evidence of fossil fuel industry control over policy decisions.
"Labor have sold out to the coal and gas corporations with this utter failure of a climate target," Waters said. "This utter failure of a climate target is a betrayal of Australian communities and the planet in favour of coal and gas corporate profits."
The Greens leader accused the government of prioritizing corporate interests over community safety, particularly referencing the timing of recent fossil fuel project approvals alongside climate risk assessments.
"We are sick of the coal and gas companies running our democracy, getting everything they want, paying very little tax, leaving communities with the clean-up bill, and the government simply doing their bidding every single time," Waters said.
She specifically criticized the government's approval of Woodside's Northwest Shelf gas project, describing it as "the biggest fossil fuel project in the southern hemisphere" approved on the same day the National Climate Risk Assessment was released.
Opposition Questions Government Credibility
Ley approached the target from a different angle, focusing on implementation costs and the government's track record on existing climate commitments.
"I'm deeply skeptical about what the government may announce today with respect to these targets," Ley said. "They need to demonstrate what is the cost and most particularly, and relevant to your question, where's the credibility?"
The Opposition Leader cited industry estimates suggesting consumers could pay over $500 billion for the government's climate commitments while questioning whether current targets remain achievable.
Ley outlined what she described as a "trifecta of energy failures" under the Labor government, including rising costs, declining reliability and stagnant emissions performance.
"So we now have, in the fourth year of the Labor government, a trifecta of energy failures," she said. "Costs are going up by 39% for energy. Reliability is coming down. Manufacturers are leaving this country because of that and cost. And emissions are flatlining."
Range Criticized as Political Compromise
Multiple critics focused on the government's decision to announce a target range rather than a specific figure, suggesting this approach lacks genuine ambition.
Waters argued the range effectively commits the government only to the minimum reduction level.
"Look, a range of 62 to 70 means 62," she said. "The only reason they've put a range in place is so that they can hit the lowest end of the range and then claim to be heroes."
Pocock expressed similar concerns about the range approach, arguing it represents an attempt to satisfy competing interests without demonstrating real leadership.
"My concern is that a range feigns ambition for the top end, you know, 70%," he said. "But we know what they're aiming for. You look at 43%, that was legislated as a floor. And it seems like we're just maybe going to scrape 43%."
Climate Risk Assessment Context
Critics repeatedly referenced the National Climate Risk Assessment released earlier in the week, which warned of severe climate impacts including 1.5 million flooded homes and 50-degree days in capital cities.
Waters linked the climate projections directly to the government's target announcement, questioning whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was prepared to accept responsibility for projected climate impacts.
"We've seen the climate risk report released earlier this week, and this will be the Prime Minister's legacy, delivering what is in that climate risk report," she said. "One and a half million Australians with their homes flooded, 50-degree days in capital cities, health systems pushed to the brink, and species and nature in utter collapse."
Pocock emphasized that the climate risk assessment demonstrated the urgent need for science-based policy decisions rather than political compromises.
"We know what's at stake. We've seen in the National Climate Risk Assessment just what climate change is going to do to our country, is going to do to our communities, the ocean that we love, the reefs that we love, the bushland that we love, the native species that make this continent so incredible," he said.
Fossil Fuel Export Exclusions
Waters particularly criticized the target's failure to address fossil fuel exports, which she said contribute 20% of Australia's domestic emissions.
"The target that the government has set completely ignores fossil fuel exports and it completely ignores ending native forest logging," she said. "The only reason they've put in such a low target is that they are unwilling to address fossil fuel exports and they are unwilling to end native forest logging."
The Greens leader argued that excluding fossil fuel exports from the target represents an artificial limitation designed to protect industry interests.
"There is nothing in today's announcement that does anything to reduce fossil fuel exports, which contributes 20% of our domestic emissions," Waters said. "And yet the government says this is the best ambition they've got."
Business Support for Higher Targets
Pocock emphasized substantial business community support for more ambitious climate action, suggesting the government ignored private sector readiness for transition.
"They're not listening to the over 500 businesses that have said 75% by 2035 is the right way to go. It's the right level of ambition," he said.
The independent senator argued that business support for higher targets demonstrates the economic feasibility of more ambitious climate action.
"You can't tell me that it's too hard. Businesses here in this country saying 75% by 2035 is what we should have landed on, and they've ignored that," Pocock said.
Coalition's Alternative Approach
While criticizing the government's target, Ley declined to specify the Coalition's preferred emissions reduction figure, instead emphasizing the need for achievable commitments backed by clear cost analysis.
"I'm not going to name a target, which, after all, is just a target," she said. "The last target the government named, remember, 43%, which they legislated, which they made a big fuss about, is not achievable. Experts have already said that."
The Opposition Leader outlined the Coalition's energy policy framework, emphasizing stable, reliable and affordable energy while acknowledging Australia's international climate obligations.
"We do need a stable, reliable grid. We will play our part in reducing emissions internationally. And we will look closely and evaluate whatever the government brings forward," Ley said.
Funding Adequacy Questions
Waters dismissed the government's $7 billion investment package as inadequate compared to fossil fuel subsidies, arguing the allocation demonstrates misplaced spending priorities.
"The net zero plan and the dollars associated with it are less than this government gives to coal and gas companies every single year in fossil fuel subsidies," she said. "So what a pitiful amount of money to allocate to the clean energy transition when it's about two-thirds of what they give every single year to coal and gas companies in cheap diesel and accelerated depreciation."
Call for Political Change
Pocock used the climate target announcement to advocate for broader political reform, arguing that community-backed independents offer the best path forward on climate policy.
"Increasingly, as I'm in here, I think the only way we're gonna change politics in this country is through community-backed independence," he said. "And having more and more people who come in here who are willing to, one, listen to their community, and two, listen to experts."
The independent senator urged citizens to engage with local independent candidates or consider running themselves ahead of the next election.
"Take your targets on climate change from climate scientists," Pocock said. "And so I'm urging people, get involved with your local community-backed independent. Donate, find a way to be involved. And if there isn't one, be the change you want to see."
Government Defense Absent
None of the provided statements included government responses to the political criticism, leaving the administration's defense of its climate target for future comment.
The broad political opposition suggests the government faces significant challenges in building consensus for its climate agenda while managing competing demands from environmental advocates and industry groups.
The criticism from multiple political perspectives highlights the complex political dynamics surrounding Australia's climate policy as the country grapples with balancing environmental commitments, economic considerations and international obligations.
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