The Climate Change Authority has issued a warning that Australia may not meet its 2030 climate goal and is running out of time to successfully transition to net zero emissions on its own terms, potentially hindering its prosperity.

The yearly evaluation by the governing body of Australia’s efforts towards addressing climate change stated that the country still has an opportunity to benefit from a net zero world. However, there is a risk that if it continues to delay, the shift towards a clean economy may be influenced by the actions of other countries.

On Thursday, during a yearly statement to parliament, the climate change minister Chris Bowen released a collection of climate reports.

According to Bowen, the government’s progress has been satisfactory based on a departmental analysis, which revealed that they are close to reaching their 2030 emissions target of a 43% reduction from 2005 levels. However, Bowen expressed that he is not completely satisfied yet.

He stated that the task is not yet complete.

• Subscribe to Guardian Australia’s complimentary morning and afternoon email newsletters to receive a daily summary of news.

According to the Climate Change Authority, meeting the 2030 target will require a significant increase in the development and implementation of solar and wind energy, as well as other supporting energy sources. This is necessary to achieve the goal of 82% renewable energy by the end of the decade, but currently, progress is not meeting expectations.

Last week, the government announced an expanded taxpayer underwriting scheme to drive private investment towards meeting the energy goal. This was done after receiving the authority report, preempting any potential warnings.

The governing body stated that with only a 1.1 degree Celsius increase in temperature from pre-industrial levels, the environment is undergoing dangerous shifts that pose a threat to both humanity and the ecosystems it depends on. As a result, immediate and drastic actions are necessary to steer towards a safer path.

The statement indicated that there is widespread backing from the government, businesses, and communities in Australia for taking bold action. However, there is a need for swift implementation of emission reductions to ensure a smooth transition to a successful and sustainable net zero economy on Australia’s terms.

According to the statement, Australia, being a small and emissions-heavy economy that depends on foreign investments and exports for economic growth, will likely experience significant impacts from the global shift towards achieving net zero emissions.

Emissions increased

In its initial year in power, the Labor party saw a 0.8% rise in national emissions, according to a distinct report covering the period from July to June.

Authorities stated that the increase in emissions was primarily caused by a rebound following a decrease during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Emissions from transportation saw a 7.8% rise in the previous fiscal year, indicating a rebound from travel limitations. Agricultural emissions also experienced a 3.8% increase as crops and livestock returned to their pre-drought levels. These increments surpassed the 3.5% decline in electricity generation emissions, attributed to the use of solar and wind energy instead of coal.

According to the emissions report, national emissions have decreased by 24.5% since 2005. The main reason for this decline is attributed to changes in land use, which are primarily unrelated to climate policy.

Rapid action needed

The governing body determined that prompt measures were necessary in various domains. Its list of 42 suggestions encompassed:

• Extending incentives for rooftop solar panels beyond 2030 and expanding them to include household batteries and private electric vehicle chargers

• Implementing global standards for reducing methane emissions and leaks in the oil and gas industry, as well as mandating the capture of all carbon dioxide emissions at facilities.

• Working with state and territory governments to reach a consensus on the timeline for phasing out fossil fuel power plants.

Bowen stated that the government acknowledged the first two points, stating that it was already taking action and would reassess the situation when sector-specific emission plans are created in the following year. The government also agreed in principle with the third point.

The minister immediately dismissed three of the authority’s suggestions, one of which was that the federal government collaborate with states to implement a nationwide plan to eliminate new and current gas connections for residential and small business structures.

He opposed a nationwide ban on gas since the states and territories had conflicting approaches and believed that it should be their responsibility to make decisions. The federal government’s job was to provide Australians with options through a $1.7 billion energy efficiency initiative.

2 emissions

Bowen declined a suggestion to implement a fuel efficiency requirement as soon as feasible, with the objective of achieving zero CO2 emissions from vehicle exhaust.₂

Emissions must be reduced by 2040 at the latest.

The government has stated that they are still dedicated to implementing a fuel efficiency standard, as outlined in a previous policy document released this year. They are currently working on the details and implementation to ensure its effectiveness. However, they have not set a net zero target for specific sectors. The final plan has been postponed and is now expected to be released next year.

He stated that the government is dedicated to a high standard that provides Australians with cleaner and more cost-effective vehicles, resulting in actual reductions in emissions. However, it is acknowledged that this is a crucial task that cannot be hurried.

Global race for capital

Bowen emphasized that the move towards net zero was a worldwide competition for funding. In the year 2023, over 500GW of renewable energy production will be implemented. Additionally, the US, EU, Canada, and Japan have all implemented incentives to attract investment in clean energy.

He stated that the government had a well-defined and ambitious strategy to become a leader in renewable energy, but there is a worldwide competition for access to supply chains.

The goal of the Labor party was to establish domestic production of crucial components in the renewable energy supply chain. They were developing strategies to reach this goal, although they acknowledge that achieving full sovereignty will take time and may not be possible for every aspect of the supply chain, according to their spokesperson.

Bowen announced his attendance at the Cop28 UN climate summit in Dubai next week, advocating for increased assistance in reducing emissions and establishing climate funding agreements for the Pacific and other nations in need, which would involve participation from all major economies.

Source: theguardian.com