Federal Labor won't be pinned down on a post-2020 target for cutting carbon pollution but leader Bill Shorten promises Australians will know where the party stands by the next federal election.
The government on Tuesday announced it would aim to reduce emissions by up to 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030.
While Labor argues the target is inadequate to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius, its environment spokesman Mark Butler says the opposition it still consulting about a target of its own.
"The benchmark for us is the commitment that our generation has made to our children and our grandchildren's generation," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
"We must keep global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius."
Labor will consider a Climate Change Authority recommendation for a 40-60 per cent cut along with other modelling and analysis, including that commissioned by the government.
Mr Butler promised Labor's position would be clear at the next election, likely in the second half of 2016.
Mr Shorten lashed out at Tony Abbott, accusing the prime minister of using only political science to make a decision about Australia's reduction target.
"But he offers no scientific evidence for the constructiveness of what he is doing to help tackle global warming," he said.
The opposition leader plans to attend the United Nations climate change conference in Paris at the end of the year and called on Mr Abbott to do likewise.
At this stage, the government will be represented by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop although that may change if more world leaders decide to attend.
Mr Abbott insists the government's plan is comparable with what other like countries are doing to tackle climate change.
It could meet the challenges "without clobbering jobs and growth", he said.
The prime minister also insists Australian coal is helping to reduce carbon emissions intensity in China and India because it's better quality.
Mr Abbott admitted some local coal mines could close "in the ordinary course of events" between now and 2030.
"But I suspect more mines will open," he told ABC radio.
"We are not expecting a reduction in the coal industry."
Share
