The Abbott government says its major policy plank against global warming, to be announced on Tuesday ahead of the Paris Climate Change Conference, will strike the right balance between protecting the global environment and safeguarding Australian jobs and economic growth. But climate change activists fear that is merely code for timid action that could result in Australia's maximum 2 degrees ''carbon budget'' busted before 2030, leaving other countries to do the work. Federal cabinet convened on Monday evening to settle on Australia's post-2020 carbon dioxide emissions cuts, following strong declarations of intent by most other developed economies recently.  
The green policy space is likely to remain a central election battleground, especially if climatescience recalcitrants in the cabinet have succeeded in watering down the tougher target, being sought by key ministers Julie Bishop, Greg Hunt and Malcolm Turnbull. Ms Bishop, who as Foreign Minister has prime responsibility for global climate negotiations, has reportedly been an advocate for stronger action. Environment Minister Mr Hunt has also pushed for higher cuts, aware that comparable economies have acted decisively, with the US opting for a 26 to 28 per cent cut on 2005 levels by 2025, and Canada cutting 30 per cent on 2005 levels of emissions by 2030. Speaking on the ABC's AM program on Monday, Mr Hunt refused to commit to the maximum 2 degrees warming goal - the internationally agreed target of limiting global warming to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels - saying: ''No. We are part of that global goal, but that doesn't mean that we necessarily adopt these targets in any way shape or form.'' In a sign of the fractious politics inside the government, insiders said that even going into the cabinet discussion, no one firm position had been ''definitively recommended''. Speculation suggested the Abbott government would pitch somewhere in the US-Canada range - perhaps a promise of a 28 per cent cut on 2005 levels by 2030. However, that has green groups worried because they say striking a superficial similarity with the US is potentially misleading and that to nominate 28 per cent would mean Australia's commitment would not even be as high as Canada's at 30 per cent by 2030. Because of its shorter end point, the US pledge of 26 to 28 per cent by 2025 amounts to a much more ambitious 40 per cent cut on 2005 levels by the 2030 timeline. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the government was living in the past on climate policy. ''Rather than focus on the jobs and investment renewables bring, Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey call wind farms ugly,'' he said. ''Australia can't afford to sit on the sidelines or turn our back on the global consensus.''