Bowen open to carbon tariff, says Australia must 'do more' to hit 2030 climate target but remains on track - 1st June 2025

 

INSIDERS INTERVIEW WITH ENERGY MINISTER CHRIS BOWN

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-01/bowen-open-to-carbon-tariff/105362978

In short: 

Energy Minister Chris Bowen says Australia is "by and large" on track to hit its 2030 emissions goal but concedes the need to "do more", leaving the door open to a carbon tariff on cement and other products pending an expert review.

Mr Bowen said the newly approved North West Shelf expansion would not jeopardise emissions goals because the site was covered by the safeguard mechanism and legally required to ratchet down its own emissions toward net zero.

What's next?

The government will soon decide its 2035 target, subject to the advice of the independent Climate Change Authority, and is bidding to host the next global climate conference. 

Mr Bowen said Australia was "by and large on track" to meet its legislated target of reducing emissions by 43 per cent by 2030, despite new figures this week showing flatlining progress in 2024.

Labor approved a 40-year expanded licence to Australia's largest oil and gas project, Western Australia's North West Shelf, in a move criticised by environmental groups.

Mr Bowen said the decision by Environment Minister Murray Watt was made according to the "very strict criteria of the environmental approvals legislation", which does not allow consideration of emissions impacts and which Labor has so far failed to reform.