The Morrison government's climate action plans continue to deceive us. The net zero emissions plan he took to the COP26 conference contained no detail, no modelling, and no new policies. Last week, he followed up with a disappointingly underwhelming electric vehicles plan.
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Then came the announcement to invest $500m into a new $1bn fund to help commercialise low-emissions technology, including carbon capture and storage. This is a typical Morrison untruth, for that is taxpayer funds he is spending, despite his tired old mantra of 'technology, not taxes'. He also ignores the plain fact that carbon capture and storage is unproven technology that most experts tell us simply won't work.
So, it has been refreshing to read of an alternative but very real world in which the politicians have got their acts together.
In NSW, government policies are set to drive uptake of EVs, with NSW setting a target of 50 per cent of new car sales by 2030, the Saturday Paper reports.
In a more meaningful way, the Labor-Greens government in the Australian Capital Territory are joining with conservative governments in South Australia and NSW to form the Net Zero Emissions Policy Forum, Crikey reported.
"Taking action on climate change is an economic and environmental imperative, and this is about ensuring states and territories are working together to address it," said NSW treasurer and energy minister Matt Kean.
The plan is that ultimately other "sub-national" level governments around the world will join the forum. As ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Climate Action Andrew Barr puts it, "Sub-national governments have a vital role to play in getting to net zero emissions because we have some of the most important levers such as transport, buildings and energy".
The ACT's Labor-Greens administration and the Coalition and Liberal Party governments in NSW and South Australia said their collaboration, known as the net zero emissions policy forum, would help sub-national jurisdictions address the practical challenges of achieving net zero.
The step is the latest taken by lower levels of government in the absence of stronger action by the federal government, and comes ahead of a cities and regions day at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.
The announcement follows widespread criticism of the Morrison government's net zero plan that relies on unspecified technology breakthroughs, global trends, and carbon offsets for more than a third of the abatement task, the Guardian Australia reported.
The states and territories involved hope that other sub-national governments around the world will join the group, which will share policies and resources and work together to speed up the transition.
"Taking action on climate change is an economic and environmental imperative, and this is about ensuring states and territories are working together to address it," said Matt Kean.
Scientists say global emissions need a much deeper cut ...
"Greenhouse gas emissions do not recognise borders, and to tackle climate change we need a globally collaborative approach and that is what this forum is about."
The ACT's chief minister and minister for climate action, Andrew Barr, said the forum members were calling on their colleagues in other state and regional governments to take decisive action to address the climate crisis.
"Sub-national governments have a vital role to play in getting to net zero emissions because we have some of the most important levers such as transport, buildings and energy," he said.
South Australia's minister for environment and water, David Speirs, said they were encouraging other sub-national governments to join "and help create the low carbon jobs and industries of the future while making sure we leave a better planet to our children and grandchildren".
The forum is an initiative of the Under2 Coalition, which aims to bring together sub-national governments which aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It will be directed by a ministerial group, which NSW will chair for the first 12 months.
The Morrison government still has the same 2030 emissions target, a 26-28 per cent cut, set under Tony Abbott six years ago. Scientists say global emissions need a much deeper cut to keep alive the possibility of limiting global heating to 1.5C.
The Greens policy of reaching net zero emissions by 2030 is the only one put forward by any party represented at both state and national levels to seriously address the issue.
