Upskilling Australians for clean trades and ending public funding and finance for coal, gas and oil are just some of the actions listed in the Climate Council’s newly released report – The Power Up: Ten Climate Game changers – to ensure Australia overshoots its 43 per cent emissions reduction target.
The report provides a practical roadmap for the Federal Government to speed up its climate action in the 2020s, tackle the energy and cost-of-living crises, and create tens of thousands of new jobs, with many of the policy recommendations capable of being implemented in this term of government.
The Climate Council’s Ten Climate Gamechangers are:
- Plug in 100 per cent renewables
- Boost batteries for rock-solid renewable supplies, through a Renewable Energy Storage Target
- Upskill Australians for clean trades
- Plan ahead for coal closures so no one is left behind, with the appointment of a National Energy Transition Authority to agree closure dates and transition plans
- Implement mandatory fuel efficiency standards as soon as possible
- Work with States and Territories to ditch diesel for renewable electric buses
- Make new buildings net zero by 2025, and electrify established ones
- Ensure major polluters do their fair share through a stronger Safeguard Mechanism
- End public funding and finance for coal, gas and oil
- Develop a comprehensive climate and energy investment plan by 2024
Despite the commencement of work in some of these areas, the Climate Council urges the government to begin work as soon as possible on areas that haven’t yet begun.
This includes ceasing public funding for fossil fuels, implementing fuel efficiency standards, making all new Australian buildings net zero and electrifying existing ones.
Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, said the hard work to get emissions down this decade to avoid the worst climate impacts can now commence with Australia’s climate targets enshrined in law following the Climate Change Act passing in Parliament.
“The Labor Government says its current climate policy is a floor, and not a ceiling. Well, the Climate Council’s plan provides the tools they’ll need to build the entire house,” Ms McKenzie said.
“We can deliver the deep, rapid emissions cuts needed to avoid a climate catastrophe while building a clean, prosperous future for all Australians.
“Our Power Up report is a plug-and-play roadmap for policymakers, with practical science-backed solutions that they can implement straight away, using today’s technology. It will deliver win-win-win benefits for our climate, cost of living and economy.”
The world has already warmed by around 1.1°C, causing unprecedented disasters around the world. Global emissions must halve this decade in order to avoid extremely dangerous levels of warming.
Taking into account Australia’s very high per capita emissions and unmatched opportunities for renewable energy, Australia should aim to reduce its emissions by 75 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and reach net-zero emissions shortly after.
“The truth is the global transition to a zero emissions future is already well underway,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Australia has a choice. We can play our part on climate action, or we can get left behind.
“A clean, safe and bright future is within our reach, and we have the solutions to achieve it. Australians will pay the price if we don’t grasp the opportunity before us.”
Read the full report here.
