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(Bloomberg) — Australia’s power minister has dominated out a ban on new coal mines as a part of the nation’s overhaul of local weather coverage.

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“That’s not a part of our agenda,” Chris Bowen mentioned when requested immediately in regards to the prospects for a ban on the ABC’s Insiders TV program on Sunday. “It received’t be a part of these negotiations.”

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The federal government was elected on a pledge to finish the nation’s local weather wars and final yr handed landmark laws mandating emissions cuts of 43% off 2005 ranges by 2030. Nonetheless, the invoice left the element on how the cuts will truly be achieved to future debate.

Learn Extra: Australian Local weather Victory Opens New Rifts in Enterprise, Politics

The overhaul of its carbon pricing coverage, which goals to abate about 205 million tons by the tip of the last decade, is among the first skirmishes. The so-called safeguard mechanism would cowl about 215 entities that account for round 1 / 4 of Australia’s whole emissions. Excessive-polluting services could be pressured to cut back air pollution or pay prices.

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The Inexperienced Get together, who management an important block of votes that the federal government is courting for different legislative priorities, is attempting to push the federal government to go additional and rule out new coal and gasoline operations. They’re additionally involved in regards to the position of utilizing carbon credit to offset emissions. 

Bowen defended using such offsets, saying they had been important for industries reminiscent of cement to maintain working with out laying individuals off or lowering manufacturing. 

“Whenever you’re embarking on such an bold proposal, you need to present flexibility,” Bowen mentioned. “My job is to get emissions down from all our emitters.”