Coalition's climate policy has allowed heavy industry to increase emissions by nearly a third

(The Guardian, 16 May 2019) Analysis finds regulator has approved a 32% increase in how much large industrial facilities are allowed to emit each year.

Heavy industry companies in Australia have been given the green light to increase their greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a third without penalty under the Coalition’s climate change policy.

An analysis of a scheme known as the “safeguard mechanism”, part of the Coalition’s Direct Action policy, found the government regulator has approved a 32% increase in how much large industrial facilities are allowed to emit each year since the policy was introduced.

While not every company emits up to their limit under the scheme, the most recent data, for 2017-18, shows emissions from large industry are up 12% since 2015.

The increases have been signed off despite the safeguard mechanism having been promised to limit emissions from big polluters to ensure they do not just cancel out cuts paid for by taxpayers through the other half of Direct Action, the emissions reduction fund.

The analysis by RepuTex, an energy and emissions research firm, found the increase in recorded emissions was set to wipe out the entire $2.55bn committed to pollution cuts over the past five years. Most of that has gone to restoring and protecting habitat and cutting pollution at landfill sites.

External link

The Guardian, 16 May 2019: Coalition's climate policy has allowed heavy industry to increase emissions by nearly a third