Lismore was again hit by flooding on Wednesday.Credit:Getty
Given that context then,many of those engaged in climate science and activism were disappointed by how little Mr Frydenberg had to say about climate in his speech,a section that constituted around 100 words of his 3500-word address.
“Australia is on the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050 and playing its part in responding to the critical global challenge of climate change. Technology,not taxes,will get us there,” the Treasurer said,reiterating the government’s longstanding position that decarbonisation was not a project for the public purse.
Mr Frydenberg boasted that the nation has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world and emphasised spending on “clean hydrogen”,carbon capture and storage,batteries and large-scale solar.
Amanda McKenzie,chief executive of the Climate Council,was unimpressed.
“I don’t buy it,” she said of the Treasurer’s claims. She notes that hydrogen investments are not necessarily carbon free and that carbon capture and storage has not yet worked to effectively capture or store carbon at commercial scale.
Protester Kate Stroud dumped her flood-ruined belongings on the Prime Minister’s door earlier this month.Credit:Edwina Pickles
But her chief concerns were that none of the spending proposals are directly targeted at rapidly reducing greenhouse emissions this decade,which scientists agree Australia must do if it is to keep pace with the rest of the world as it tackles climate change.