Do Garnaut’s targets add up?

18 November 2008

Andrew Macintosh

On Friday, 5 September 2008, Professor Ross Garnaut released his much awaited supplementary draft report on targets and trajectories. The report argues that Australia's mid- and long-term targets should be to reduce emissions net of international trading by 10 per cent from 2000 levels by 2020, and 80 per cent by m2050. This, we are told, is a proportionate contribution to the ‘achievable' international goal of stabilising the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases at 550 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). This lecture, Do Garnaut's targets add up? An analysis of the Garnaut Review's targets and trajectories recommendations, explored whether the proposed national targets are consistent with the goal of stabilising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at 550 ppm CO2-e and whether the risks associated with his 'overshoot' strategy have been fully explored.

Broad Topics: Law

Sub-topics: Economics, Environment, Law, Justice & Law Enforcement

Areas: ANU College of Law

Andrew Macintosh is an environmental law and policy expert and is the Associate Director of the ANU Centre for Climate Law and Policy. After leaving university, Andrew worked as a solicitor at Mallesons Stephens Jacques and later at Minter Ellison, where he was a member of the firm's environmental and planning law group. Prior to joining the ANU College of Law, Andrew was Deputy Director of The Australia Institute and has previously worked as an environmental advisor to the Australian Democrats. He has a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Law (1st Hons.) from Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies from the University of Tasmania.

Part of the Blake Dawson-ANU Public Lecture Series