Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

We have met and beaten our Kyoto targets; we are on track to more than meet our current commitments to reduce our emissions by 13 per cent on 2005 levels. We are on track to meet and beat our current commitments to reduce emissions by 2020 by 13 per cent on 2005 levels.

Yesterday we announced our targets for 2030 to take to the Paris conference at the end of the year. We will reduce our emissions by 26 to 28 per cent. This is a very strong and responsible target; it is environmentally responsible; it is economically responsible. It is better than Japan; it is much better than Korea; and it is vastly better than China. It is better than Japan's 25 per cent; it is much better than Korea's four per cent; and, of course, it is vastly better than China, which will actually increase its emissions by 150 per cent by 2030. Yes, it is a whisker below Canada and New Zealand; it is a little below the European level, but, unlike Europe, this country is growing strongly both economically and in terms of population. We will reduce our emissions per person by 50 per cent at least by 2030. This is the best outcome of any country that has so far said what its targets will be for the end of the year. The costs are not insignificant but they are manageable. Unlike members opposite, who want to clobber our economy with a $200 a tonne carbon tax and who want an $85 billion—

Opposition members interjecting—

See this speech in context