Zali Steggall (Warringah, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's be clear: a pandemic shutdown is not an emissions reduction plan. I certainly welcome that emissions are down, but let's get real. The heavy lifting is being done by the private sector and state governments who are announcing ambitious and strong plans for emissions reduction—in the absence of any such move by the Commonwealth government. The Morrison government is trying to take credit for the work it hasn't done. The reality is that emissions have only reduced by a little over nine per cent in the last seven years, and just over six per cent of that has happened this year under COVID shutdown. Meanwhile, with a climate change act firmly in place for over 10 years now, the UK is on track to deliver a 61 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030.

What we need is the Morrison government to come on board, legislate net zero by 2050 and put in effective plans to get there. The Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 will do just that and is before the parliament. The House Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy is currently holding an inquiry into the bill, and submissions are pouring in, and it's an impressive and expansive list of businesses and organisations that are supporting this legislation. I call on the government to be involved, be ambitious and be brave to meet this challenge. Legislate net zero by 2050 and implement a clear plan to get there.