Coalition climate target consistent with more than 3C global heating, research says

The research by Climate Analytics says both parties’ emissions targets would still result in more frequent and intense heat events such as catastrophic bushfires. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Morrison government’s climate change commitments are consistent with more than 3C of global heating, bordering on 4C, a level that would lead to catastrophic damage across the planet, according to a new analysis.

Labor’s climate target was found to be consistent with about 2C of heating above pre-industrial levels. Both would be expected to lead to the loss of tropical coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, and a significant rise in the number of extreme heat events in Australia, assuming other countries took equivalent action.