Australia’s House of Representatives has passed the first climate bill in the country’s history. There is also an agreement in the USA.
Power plant in Muswellbrook: Despite the climate package, Australia’s prime minister does not want to stop coal mining Photo: Mark Baker/ap
SYDNEY/WASHINGTON dpa | Australia’s House of Representatives has passed a climate bill for the first time in the country’s history. After several amendments, the bill was passed by a vote of 89 to 55 on Thursday in the capital Canberra. The Labor government that took office in May wants to support its plans in the fight against climate change – in particular a reduction in CO2-Emissions by 43 percent by 2030 – enshrine in national law. The law will be presented to the second chamber of parliament, the Senate, in mid-September.
The climate law is an important milestone for the country, which has been particularly hard hit by climate change. There have been severe floods several times this year. Bushfires could also increase further in connection with higher temperatures and longer dry periods.
After the vote in Parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of “delivering on a core promise” that his party had made to voters. Scott Morrison’s previous conservative government was heavily criticized for its hesitant stance on climate policy. However, Albanese also recently said in an interview with the broadcaster ABC that he did not want to stop the coal mining criticized by climate experts so as not to burden the economy.
Until recently, it was unclear whether the Greens would support the law. In weeks of negotiations, the party initially pushed for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 75 percent, which Labor rejected. Only on Wednesday evening did Green Party leader Adam Bandt finally pledge his party’s support.
Bandt said on Thursday that acting quickly remains important: “If we reach 2 degrees (of global warming) we will have to say goodbye to the Great Barrier Reef and parts of Australia could become uninhabitable if we go beyond that.” , he warned. Independent politicians also emphasized that the emission targets should be understood as a minimum with plenty of room for improvement.
Investment program worth billions in the USA
Although the US Inflation Reduction Act has not yet passed Congress, the law, which also includes climate investments, is a success. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, whose vote was considered crucial for the package worth several hundred billion US dollars, announced late Thursday evening (local time) that she was ready to advance the bill, as US media reported unanimously. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his party colleague Joe Manchin negotiated changes to the law last week and surprisingly presented an agreement.
The background is that the Democrats in the US Senate must vote unanimously for the project so that it can pass the chamber. After many negotiations, the package is only a fraction of what US President Joe Biden originally wanted to achieve for climate and social affairs. Manchin in particular repeatedly torpedoed Biden’s plans.
Majority leader Schumer said on Thursday that the most important elements of the law remained in the most recent agreement – such as reducing the cost of prescription drugs, combating climate change, closing tax loopholes and $300 billion for debt reduction. The final version will be brought to the chamber on Saturday. He assumes that she will receive the support of all Democrats. The House of Representatives could then vote on it as early as next week.
“Tonight we took another important step in reducing inflation and the cost of living for America’s families,” Biden said Thursday. The law will help Americans save money and make the tax system fairer. It includes “the largest investment in history to combat climate change and increase energy security”.
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