In the international negotiations to finalise a post-2020 target for greenhouse gas emissions Australia will need to strike the right balance.

This submission argues that Australia will need to strike a balance in setting its post-2020 target such that it is neither disproportionately too high, nor too low and is commensurate with the level of change communities and individuals will tolerate over time.

In setting a post-2020 target the government should weigh the following factors:

•    Australia’s appropriate share

•    what other countries are actually doing

•    technical feasibility

•    environmental credibility

•    economic cost.

The Australian community should also have a clear understanding of the structural adjustment required, how it will occur and in what timeframe, and also potential risks to our competitiveness as a result.

Response to Issues Paper: Setting Australia's post-2020 target for greenhouse gas emissions