The Climate Change Authority (CCA) has released its review of the potential technology transition and emissions pathways for the Australian Government to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The review considers the pathways for six sectors—agriculture and land; built environment; electricity and energy; industry and waste; transport and resources—to decarbonise. It identifies barriers and proposes strategies and actions to address them.
Requested by the Australian Parliament, the review will inform the Australian Government’s Net Zero Plan, which will lay out and extend Australia’s action on climate change.
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“The authority has charted a course for how Australia can decarbonise by 2050,” CCA chair Matt Kean said.
“Good progress is being made on decarbonising the energy sector and rolling out firmed renewables. But to achieve a rapid and orderly transition to net zero, all sectors of the economy, along with all levels of government, must plan and act together.”
The authority’s review found there are many pathways to achieving emissions reductions with existing, mature technologies, such as solar and wind for electricity generation and batteries for energy storage getting Australia much of the way to net zero.
Opportunities also exist with the rapid development of emerging low-emissions technologies, such as hydrogen and engineered carbon removals.
Kean said developers of renewables projects need to engage with regional communities about infrastructure’s role in the energy transition, and better explain the sharing of benefits from the rollout.
The authority’s review proposes six strategies that can be incorporated in the Net Zero Plan for addressing the challenges and enabling Australia’s transition to a prosperous, net zero economy.
Suggested actions for the Australian Government include working with local, state and territory governments, businesses, communities and households to build on existing climate change policies, reform development approval processes and address mounting workforce shortages.
Kean said technology uptake, investment and cooperation were critical success factors.
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“We need to seize this once in a generation opportunity to ensure Australia’s rapid and orderly transition as the world transforms to avert the worst impacts of climate change,” he said.
“This requires a major reorganisation of supply chains, production systems, industrial zones, energy sources, public and private finance, infrastructure and workforces.
Read the full report here.
