The Climate Change Authority’s second annual progress report includes 42 recommendations the Authority considers would enhance the prospects of achieving Australia’s targets, and promote a prosperous and resilient Australia in a world transitioning to net zero emissions.

This report, provided to the Minister on 27 October 2023, found that Australia is not yet on track to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target. The Australian Government is pursuing a broad and deep climate change policy agenda, but this has yet to translate into the emissions reductions needed.

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions were 467 million tonnes in the year ending June 2023, an increase of four million tonnes on the previous year. To achieve a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared with 2005 levels, and net zero emissions by 2050, Australia will need to decarbonise at an average annual rate of 17 million tonnes.

Successful policy implementation will be crucial for achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets.

Key recommendations

• Provide further support for Australian climate change research through a coordinated, expanded national research program on climate science.
• Lead the establishment of best-practice protocols for conducting extreme weather event attribution studies to ensure different studies are comparable and clearly understandable.
• Legislate for the National Climate Risk Assessment to be undertaken, and the National Adaptation Plan updated, a minimum of every 5 years, and for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Plan.
• Work with state and territory governments to accelerate the rollout of network infrastructure to support the deployment of large-scale renewable energy projects.
• Implement measures to ensure there is adequate abated domestic gas supply for firming renewable electricity generation and other purposes, while the domestic use of gas is phased down over time with the deployment of lower and zero emissions alternatives.