Emissions target inadequate: authority

An independent climate advisory body has recommended tougher 2020 emissions reduction targets. Source: AAP

AN independent climate advisory body has described Australia's 2020 carbon emissions reduction target of five per cent as "inadequate" and recommends cuts of at least 15 per cent.

In its draft Targets and Progress Review report released on Wednesday, the Climate Change Authority (CCA) recommends a significant increase above the five per cent target currently agreed to by both major parties.

The authority - soon to be abolished by the federal government - has not made a final recommendation on what the 2020 target should be, instead canvassing two options - a 15 per cent reduction and a 25 per cent reduction.

A 15 per cent reduction was the "minimum option", the draft report said.

Authority chair Bernie Fraser described a five per cent reduction on 2000 levels as "inadequate on a number of grounds" and said that delaying tougher action until after 2020 would require "very rapid reductions" beyond then.

"A five per cent target would leave Australia lagging behind others, including the United States," Mr Fraser said.

"At this stage, the authority has not made a final recommendation on what that tougher 2020 emissions reduction target for Australia should be, beyond believing that the 5 per cent target is not a credible option."

The authority modelled the two alternatives to the five per cent target.

The 15 per cent target for 2020 had a 2030 trajectory range of 35 to 50 per cent, while the 25 per cent target had a 2030 trajectory of 40 to 50 per cent.

A 25 per cent cut would give a 75 per cent chance of limiting global warming to two degrees, and a 15 per cent cut a 67 per cent chance, the modelling says.

A five per cent emissions reduction would only provide a 50 per cent chance of hitting that two degree target.

Mr Fraser noted the federal government's plans to abolish the authority and the carbon tax and replace them with the direct action policy that uses revegetation and improving soil carbon to soak up emissions.

"In the authority's view, this report remains highly relevant despite the changing policy landscape," he said.

"It's primary focus is Australia's goals for reducing emissions.

"The setting of these goals raises the same critical questions, whatever the particular policies adopted to meet them."

Greens leader Christine Milne said the authority had thrown down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

"This report is yet another nail in the coffin of Mr Abbott's Direct Action sham. How much more evidence does the prime minister need before he will pull his head out of the sand on global warming?" she said.

The Australian Conservation Foundation said a cut of 25 per cent was the least Australia could do to meet its international obligations.

The CCA will provide its final report to government by the end of February next year.

Comment is being sought from Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

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