Australia has scope to make more ambitious cuts to carbon emissions
Australia's Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, said that the country has scope to make more ambitious cuts to its carbon emissions following﻿ the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December. Australia's﻿ initial target has﻿ been set between 26-28%, to 2005 emissions levels, by 2030. Hunt believes that in the follow up talks the Government will consider increasing the target, with the possibility of a review every five years. 

Australia has scope to make more ambitious cuts to its carbon emissions after the initial targets are agreed at the Paris climate conference in December, Environment Minister Greg Hunt says.

While the initial targets set by the Abbott government for a 26-28 per cent cut to 2005 emissions levels by 2030 remain, the government will consider enlarging the target in follow-up talks, he said.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt says Australia has scope to make more ambitious cuts to carbon emissions. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

"It's highly likely that the outcome from the Paris meeting will be a process for review of global and national targets, perhaps every five years, and that will prepare us for 2020, 2025 and 2030," Mr Hunt said in an interview with Fairfax Media.