Damon Mcknight
Australia is one of the most vulnerable countries to rising temperatures, and its actions on climate change have been criticised by scientists and politicians worldwide. Australia's current long-term emissions reduction plan sets a net-zero emissions target for 2050, but it relies heavily on global technology trends and carbon offsets. The country has made commitments to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and reports annually on its progress. Australia's climate finance contributions have been criticised as critically insufficient, and its 2030 target of a 26-28% reduction in emissions compared to 2005 levels falls short of the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit. Australia's continued support for the coal industry and new fossil fuel projects has drawn criticism, with experts calling for a comprehensive price on greenhouse gas emissions. However, the country has taken some positive steps, including initiatives to encourage businesses and industries to reduce emissions and the development of climate information to support planning and preparedness for climate hazards.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's 2030 emissions reduction targets
In 2015, Australia committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This target was criticised by the United Nations (UN) as being too low, and in 2020, the UN reported that Australia was not on track to meet its commitments.
Australia's Climate Change Performance Index ranking also reflected its lack of progress, placing it last out of 57 countries responsible for more than 90% of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, the Australian government maintains that it is on course to meet its 2030 targets and has pledged to improve its climate action.
In 2022, Australia updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target, aiming for a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This updated target has been met with scepticism due to the government's continued support for the fossil fuel industry and reliance on land sector sequestration to achieve its goals.
To align with the Paris Agreement and effectively combat climate change, Australia needs to adopt more ambitious targets and policies. This includes decreasing its reliance on offsetting and land-use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) emissions, introducing transparent land sector modelling, and ceasing support for the fossil fuel industry.
Australia has implemented various programmes to reduce emissions, such as the Renewable Energy Target scheme, the Emissions Reduction Fund, and the 20 Million Trees programme. Additionally, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) finance low emissions technology, renewable energy projects, and clean energy projects. However, more ambitious action and targets are needed to ensure Australia contributes fairly to global climate change mitigation efforts.
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The role of Australia's states and territories
Australia's states and territories continue to lead the way on climate action, with all except Western Australia and the Northern Territory having more ambitious 2030 targets than the Federal Government or having a 2035/2040 target already in place.
Australia's Climate Change Performance Index ranking, as well as its "critically insufficient" rating, indicates that the country needs to improve its fair share contribution through strengthened domestic emissions reductions and financing additional climate action in developing countries.
In addition to the federal government's initiatives, various Australian government agencies are also contributing to the country's climate goals. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) finances low-emissions technology and renewable energy projects, while the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) finances clean energy projects. The Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) uses climate simulations to project future climate, and the Clean Energy Regulator administers the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme, the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), and the Renewable Energy Target (RET) schemes.
The Australian Climate Service works across these government agencies to develop climate information to support better planning and preparedness for climate-related hazards. The Bureau of Meteorology, on the other hand, monitors, analyses, and communicates observed and future changes in Australia's climate.
Despite these efforts, there is still denial about the impacts of rising CO2 levels, and Australia has been criticised for its approach to climate change, particularly its continued support for the coal industry and its failure to acknowledge the need for a net-zero emissions plan.
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Australia's fossil fuel exports
Australia is one of the world's largest exporters of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, gas, iron ore, and uranium. In 2019, it was the third-largest exporter of fossil fuels, behind Russia and Saudi Arabia, and its exports made up 7% of global fossil fuel exports. Australia's fossil fuel exports are nearly four times larger than those of Venezuela or Colombia.
Australia's role as a major exporter of fossil fuels has been criticised for its impact on global emissions. The emissions from burning Australia's exported fossil fuels are significant, and some argue that these emissions should be counted towards the country's overall emissions footprint. In 2018, these emissions were 1.2 times greater than global aviation emissions and 1.4 times greater than all the CO2 emissions produced by the 2019 summer bushfires.
Despite the criticism, the Australian government has defended the fossil fuel industry, particularly coal, for its contribution to the economy and employment. The government has approved the construction of controversial new coal mines and proposed a gas-led recovery from the pandemic-induced recession.
However, there are calls for Australia to reduce its fossil fuel exports and transition to a more sustainable energy future. At COP28, Australia pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad within a year, and there are recommendations to remove subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. Australia also has various initiatives to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources and reduce emissions, such as the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme and the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme.
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The impact of climate change on Australia
Australia is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The country is already experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves, driven by a combination of natural phenomena and rising global temperatures. The impact of these heatwaves extends beyond human discomfort, as they have been implicated in the recent devastating wildfires that have destroyed vast territories of land, killed numerous animals, and caused significant economic damage.
Climate change-induced temperature rise is also projected to have severe consequences for wheat production in Australia. The CSIRO predicts a 32% possibility of diminished wheat production and a 45% probability of wheat crop values falling below present levels if no adaptations are made. This could have significant economic and food security implications for the country.
Additionally, climate change is expected to cause substantial alterations in climate extremes, such as tropical cyclones, heatwaves, and severe precipitation events. These events can degrade infrastructure, increase maintenance costs, and lead to disasters such as coastal flooding. According to the 2022 IPCC report, Australia will suffer significant economic losses due to the impact of climate change-induced natural disasters.
To address these challenges, Australia has implemented various strategies and initiatives. The country has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has established frameworks for monitoring and reporting these emissions. Additionally, Australia is investing in renewable energy projects and providing incentives for businesses and individuals to adopt more sustainable practices. However, Australia's efforts have been criticised for falling short of what is needed to effectively combat climate change, particularly in relation to its continued reliance on fossil fuels and lack of ambitious targets.
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Australia's climate finance contributions
Australia also contributes to multilateral climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Pacific Resilience Facility, and the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. Additionally, Australia provides funding to multilateral development banks, including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
To increase the impact and scale of its climate finance, Australia is working with the private sector and utilising blended finance mechanisms. The Australian Development Investments (ADI) initiative provides technical assistance and supports de-risking private sector investment. Australia's International Development Policy aims for at least half of new bilateral and regional investments over $3 million to have a climate objective from 2024-25, with an 80% target for 2028-29.
Australia has also established partnerships to accelerate private sector investment in low-emission, climate-resilient solutions, such as the Australian Climate Finance Partnership with the ADB, and the Australia-Pacific Climate Infrastructure Partnership.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has been criticised for its approach to tackling climate change, with scientists and politicians alike noting its lack of commitment to reducing emissions and its continued support of the coal industry. However, the Australian government maintains that it is on course to meet its 2030 emissions targets.
Australia has set a target of reducing emissions by 26-28% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This target has been criticised by the UN for not going far enough to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5C. In 2023, the Albanese government increased this target to a 43% reduction by 2030.
Australia has introduced a safeguard mechanism that acts as a carbon cap for the country's biggest emitters. It also encourages businesses, industries and consumers to reduce their emissions through various programs and initiatives, such as the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme and the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme.
Australia is one of the most vulnerable countries to rising temperatures, with climate change expected to cause substantial alterations in climate extremes, such as tropical cyclones, heatwaves and severe precipitation events. Climate change has also been linked to the increase in wildfires and is projected to cause a 1-metre sea level rise in the next 30-60 years, impacting 700,000 properties.
The international community has criticised Australia's approach to climate change, with the country ranking last out of 57 countries responsible for more than 90% of greenhouse gas emissions on climate policy. The United Nations has also reported that Australia is not on track to meet its 2030 emissions targets. However, Australia continues to engage with the international community on climate action through various events and initiatives, such as the COP29 Action Agenda and the Climate Public Diplomacy Program.
