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When Australians next head to the federal polls, it’s looking increasingly likely they will be voting at yet another climate change election. The Coalition is yet to release the details of its climate and energy policy, but Opposition leader Peter Dutton has already flagged that, if elected, the Coalition will seek to build a nuclear energy industry in Australia, and will review our international commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Those who value evidence-based policy decisions have greeted both developments with dismay. Analysis repeatedly shows nuclear energy in Australia is not an economically viable proposition. As for walking back on Australia’s 2030 emissions targets, this nation has for too long dragged the chain in the international climate effort. Delaying action further would position Australia as a global pariah, and make the emissions-reduction task even harder down the track.
As Griffith University’s Wesley Morgan writes today, there’s another major downside to Dutton’s proposed capitulation. For our Pacific neighbours, climate change is an existential threat. A walk-back by Australia on climate action creates a diplomatic vacuum in the Pacific that China will happily fill. The current visit to Australia by China’s Premier Li Qiang may have taken the heat out of recent tensions between the two nations. But Australia and China remain embroiled in a tussle for power in the Pacific – and Dutton’s plan, if enacted, would only weaken Australia’s influence.
PS. A huge thank you to everyone who has generously donated to The Conversation in recent weeks. We are now 70% of the way to reaching our end-of-financial-year goal, so if you would like to help us keep producing free, evidence-based journalism you can donate here.
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Nicole Hasham
Energy + Environment Editor
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