THE mining sector is taking a swipe at emission cuts being pushed by environmental groups, and warns targets can only be achieved through a ‘protracted recession’.
The NSW government is joining the chorus, and believes the trading scheme will put the state’s coal industry at a significant disadvantage to overseas competitors.
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) says targets to cut emissions by 10% before 2020 will be extremely difficult given how fast population, the economy and energy demand are growing.
While the MCA supports the government’s treatment of trade-exposed industries, it has concerns about the adequacy of help for the coal mining industry.
It says without a protracted recession, Australia will “almost certainly fail to meet the target”, which will damage the credibility of the emissions trading scheme.