NSW targets 70pct emissions cut by 2035

Luke Costin | December 23, 2022

Climate groups have praised NSW for again pushing ahead of the pack on emissions reductions by targeting a 70 per cent carbon cut by 2035.

The NSW coalition government announced the new target on Friday, saying it would drive $39 billion in investment and support 13,000 new jobs while protecting the environment for generations to come.

While South Australia and Victoria had joined NSW in targeting a 50 per cent cut by 2030, on 2005 levels, the new target pushes NSW ahead of all other states.

“There is a real sense of momentum towards a clean future in Australia this year,” Climate Council head of advocacy Jennifer Rayner said in a statement.

“We’ve seen much stronger targets for renewable energy and emissions reduction announced in Queensland, Victoria and now NSW. It’s great to see states jostling to be at the front of the pack in the race to net zero and Australians will reap the benefits.”

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the state was on track to achieve the 2035 pledge, which he said would secure the future of the economy and the environment for the next generation.

“I’ve just come back from the UK … where I met with investment banks and rating agencies,” he said.

“The very clear message to me from all those bodies is that climate risk is investment risk. They wanted to make it very clear that strong action on climate change would underwrite our state’s AAA credit rating.”

He defended the government’s decision against legislating the target – a key line of attack used by teal independents targeting moderate Liberal seats.

“We’ve set our clear targets … we’ve got the policies legislated that will meet those targets,” he said.

Under current policies, most of the NSW’s projected emissions cuts will come from the widescale shutdown of coal-fired power plants in favour of renewable energy.

Transport is projected to become the state’s dirtiest sector by 2030.

While the state has an EV target for its vehicle fleet, Mr Kean said wide-scale vehicle emissions standards was a matter for the federal government.

The new emissions target has the support of the Labor opposition but they suggested Friday’s launch was “a cynical photo opportunity” days out from Christmas.

Were the treasurer “serious about action on climate change” he would have supported Labor’s attempt to legislate emissions reduction targets and create an independent commission to monitor and provide advice on a detailed plan to get there, climate change spokesman Jihad Dib said.

“His renewable energy roadmap and essential transmission works are delayed, and instead of providing the energy bill reductions he promised, NSW is facing the steepest energy price rises of any state in the country,” Mr Dib said on Friday.

Climate scientists have called for a net-zero target for 2035 to ward off significant damage from climate change.

But the new NSW target was still an exciting development, the Nature Conservation Council NSW said.

“There are many climate solutions still to be implemented, like renovating households for energy efficiency, making public transport cheaper, and ceasing to log our native forests but this sets us in the right direction,” chief executive Jacqui Mumford said.

The Greens also provided tentative support but pointed to the government’s continued support of coal and gas, including declaring the Narrabri Gas Project a state significant project.

“Santos’ Narrabri Gas project proposed in the Pilliga is predicted to create a further 1.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse pollution over 25 years. That’s equivalent to three times Australia’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2020,” Greens MP Sue Higginson said.

ACT currently has the most ambitious emissions reduction target in the nation: 65 to 75 per cent by 2025, on 1990 levels, and net zero by 2045.

Queensland, whose electricity network is heavily reliant on coal, is aiming for 30 per cent by 2030, on 2005 levels.