Labor will set a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2035, in a few weeks time, to take to the United Nations climate summit in Brazil in November.

Climate scientists and major environmental groups have called for a cut of 75% from 2005 emissions by 2035, and net zero by 2030. But if Australia sets another climate target that is rigged to be met without real cuts to emissions, this will be an empty gesture.

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Australia’s current climate target is a 43% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Both targets are inadequate. The way the government measures its progress has been accurately described by The Australia Institute’s Polly Hemming as “cooking the books”.

First, it only includes estimates of domestic emissions. It does not include greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal and gas that it exports.

Australia is the world’s third-largest fossil fuel exporter, after Russia and the United States.........

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