The Climate Change Authority (CCA) has only recently called for a draft consultation emissions reduction target for Australia. They seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65-75 percent from 2005 levels. This ambitious new target couldn’t be coming at a better time. The Albanese government is preparing to announce the nation’s official emissions reduction targets for 2035. Currently, Australia’s trajectory indicates a reduction of 36 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, 43 percent by 2035, and a staggering 86 percent by 2050. Experts are sounding the alarm, arguing that reaching these targets will take sweeping policy reforms and massive infrastructure investments.
Figueres, a leading climate advocate and former head of the UNFCCC, recently tweeted her wisdom on this point. She was executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In her new research she claims Aussies 2035 target should be “at least” 75 percent. Other nations are putting forward serious plans and investments to reduce emissions. As it stands, the UK has an ambitious target to reduce emissions by 81 percent from 1990 levels by 2035. At the same time, New Zealand’s target is a 51-55 percent reduction from 2005 levels. After all, Canada has committed to cut emissions by 45-50 percent below 2005 levels by that same year. In parallel, developing countries such as Nepal and Cambodia are setting their own conditional and unconditional targets.
Current Emission Trends in Australia
For the year ending in March, this has increased Australia’s emissions to roughly 440 million tonnes. This figure will require a hefty 28 percent reduction from 2005 levels. Even with this progress, the country still has a long way to go in order to meet much more ambitious targets. The CCA’s draft proposal is a timely and much-needed call to action. If we want to reach reductions greater than 65 percent, we need to make big moves in all sectors.
As Australia anticipates the government’s formal announcement, analysts stress the need for concrete steps to bridge the gap between current trajectories and desired outcomes. The existing framework suggests reductions at various stages: a modest decrease of 36 percent by 2030 and a more ambitious goal of 43 percent by 2035. These numbers are not enough in wake of global expectations and legal obligations.
The CCA’s proposed target of 65-75 percent would be a hundred times more ambitious than what’s currently projected. Experts are worried now more than ever. They are careful to add that simply shoring up the status quo won’t be enough to meet our federal international climate commitments.
International Comparisons and Expectations
The discrepancy between Australia’s emissions reduction targets and other nations’ commitments is shocking. The UK has introduced radical new measures to tackle climate change. By 2035, it seeks to lower emissions by an ambitious 81 percent below 1990 levels. New Zealand is targeting 51-55 percent net emissions reduction from 2005 levels. By contrast, Canada has pledged a 45-50 percent reduction. Nepal aims for a conditional 26.79 percent reduction. On the other hand, Cambodia has pledged an unconditional reduction of 16 percent, increasing that number up to 55 percent in the case of receiving international financial assistance.
These are the most relevant comparisons that expose Australia’s self-fulfilled mediocrity of choice on the international stage. The CCA’s draft targets compete with domestic needs, even as they respond to international expectations. Further, they demonstrate Australia’s willingness to stay on par with the rest of the world. It’s not enough and Australia should do better in climate negotiations. In order to achieve this, it needs to be raising its targets in line with developing international best practice.
Challenges Ahead for Emissions Reduction
Reaching the proposed emissions targets won’t come easy. These are not insurmountable but the existing fossil fuel infrastructure and export commitments are major hurdles. World-leading economists like Ross Garnaut back a carbon price. This tax would extend beyond domestic consumption to affect exports, public policy expert Rod Sims argued. Recent approvals of fossil fuel projects, such as the controversial Woodside project, signal that such measures may not be forthcoming.
Additionally, technological innovations are often a new variable to the equation. For the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) sector, these require massive data centers. These data hubs need a huge and reliable power supply, which creates difficulty in relying solely on renewable energy sources. As technology advances, meeting energy needs while achieving environmental targets will only get harder.
