Albanese Government Urged to End Old Growth Logging to Meet Emissions Reduction Target

Strategic Insights -

The Albanese government is under pressure to end old growth logging to meet a 2035 emissions reduction target recommended by the Climate Change Authority. Australia's most respected forest scientists, Prof David Lindenmayer of the Australian National University, has questioned why the authority did not go further and recommend an end to all native forest logging. The authority's report found that ceasing old growth logging, reducing other types of native forest harvesting, and planting new forests could deliver about 6% of the necessary emissions reductions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Climate Change Authority recommends ceasing old growth logging and halving re-clearing rates to meet even the lower end of a goal to cut emissions by 62% to 70% by 2035.
  • Ending old growth logging, reducing other types of native forest harvesting, and planting new forests could deliver about 6% of the necessary emissions reductions.
  • The Greens forests spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, says that old growth logging must end at a minimum to meet even the lower end of the target range.
  • Professor David Lindenmayer has written to the Climate Change Authority questioning why it did not recommend an end to all native forest logging.
  • Declining to end native forest logging would mean the government would need to explain how it would find the necessary emissions reductions to meet the target.
  • Ending native logging and reining in land-clearing is one of the cheapest, fastest, and most effective ways the government could cut emissions and protect biodiversity.
  • A government spokesperson said McKim was misinterpreting the Climate Change Authority's role, which was to recommend a target, not a plan to achieve it.
  • Professor Lindenmayer estimates that native forest logging in Tasmania alone causes the equivalent of 1.1 million cars' worth of emissions every year.

Statistics:

  • The Climate Change Authority recommends comparing emissions reductions from ceasing old growth logging, halving re-clearing rates, and reducing native forest harvesting to the equivalent level of abatement needed across the economy to achieve the 62-70% target.
  • The authority's report found that ceasing old growth logging could deliver about 6% of the necessary emissions reductions.
  • Professor Lindenmayer estimates that native forest logging in Tasmania alone causes the equivalent of 1.1 million cars' worth of emissions every year.

Sources:

  • The Canberra Times, "Climate Change Authority recommends even cutting emissions by 62% to 70%"
  • The Guardian, "Climate Change Authority report recommends ceasing old growth logging to meet emissions target"
  • Australian National University, "About Prof David Lindenmayer"
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation, "Emissions target: Labor's Murray Watt not ruling out old growth logging"
  • The Greens, "Tasmanian Senator Nick McKim"
  • Australian Government, "Climate Change Authority report"
  • Climate Change Authority, "A Pathway to Net Zero Emissions"