Perhaps the most morally hollow argument from the “no regrets” school is that because Australia contributes only 1.3 per cent or so of global emissions, we have no duty to do anything (or as little as diplomatically tenable). “It’s up to the US and China!”
The very same people never apply this argument to Australian participation in foreign wars, and generally have been supportive of political leaders in the US who have stymied every global attempt at climate action.
In any event, at 1.3 per cent, Australia is still the 14th biggest emitter (out of 195 countries) and among the worst.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a lump of coal in parliament.
Only Julia Gillard implemented a policy that, for two years (July 2012-June 2014), substantially reduced Australia’s emissions: the notorious “carbon tax” legislated in the Clean Energy Act of 2011. But Gillard lacked the gravitas to defend either herself or her policy against vicious attacks from the carbon club. Likewise Bill Shorten.
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