Australia's emissions targets are 'not enough'

Australia's target of reducing carbon emissions by five per cent by the end of 2020 has been called inadequate. The Climate Change Authority has released a draft report that states that Australia should work to reduce emissions by at least 15 per cent on 2000's levels in order to keep up with comparable countries, such as the US.

Although the report does not outline a final figure that emissions should be reduced by, it has recommended two different options for the country. This move could be beneficial to the world as a whole when it comes to climate change. 

The Climate Change Authority has suggested that emissions should fall 15 per cent by the year 2020 and that further work should then be done to reduce them by between 35 and 50 per cent before 2030.

The report also outlines another option that the country might consider, with a tougher reduction of 25 per cent by 2020. This would mean that emissions would then need to be reduced by between 40 and 50 per cent by 2030.

According to the report, having such a low target prior to the 2020 emissions reduction deadline will mean that harsher controls will need to be put in place after this in order to make the necessary reductions by 2030. By reducing emissions by at least 15 per cent Australia's contribution to the limiting global temperature increase to only two degrees Celsius from pre-industrial temperatures. 

Despite the recommendations of the draft report, the Australian government will not make any moves to increase the country's emission targets, according to the environment minister Greg Hunt.

Mr Hunt said the government will first wait until the next UN Climate Summit - planned for September 2015 - to judge international response to the current target.

"This is one input, it's a draft report, I respect and appreciate the contribution," he said. "Our timeframe remains unchanged. The world will make a decision at the end of 2015. We will do our analysis based on how the world is tracking at that point."