Australia’s power and gas companies want Coalition to retain Labor’s 2030 climate target

Australia’s power plant owners support retention of the government’s 2030 climate target even though they think it will be difficult to achieve. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

The owners of Australian coal and gas-fired power plants have joined the country’s leading business groups in saying the Coalition should keep Labor’s 2030 climate target if it wins the next election.

The Australian Energy Council, which represents electricity companies and gas wholesalers and retailers, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Industry Group said maintaining an interim target – legislated as a 43% cut compared with 2005 levels – was an important step in getting to net zero emissions by mid-century.