The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report on climate science reinforces the need for a coordinated, global effort to reduce emissions.
The report, released today, provides an update on the latest physical science on climate change, including the rates, causes and likely future trajectories of global warming and other changes to the climate system.
Overcoming these challenges is a shared responsibility.
Australia is committed to achieving net zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050, and to meeting and exceeding our 2030 commitment, as we already have with our 2020 targets.
Since 2018, Australia’s 2030 position has improved by 639 million tonnes (equivalent to taking all of Australia’s 14.7 million cars off the road for 15 years). The Government will release updated forecasts ahead of COP26 which are expected to show a further improvement.
These improvements are driven by Australian households and businesses adopting new energy technologies at record rates. Australia now has the most solar per person of any country in the world, the most wind and solar of any country outside of Europe, and the highest uptake of household solar in the world.
The Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap is positioning Australia to be a leader in the next generation of low-emissions technologies that will make net zero emissions practically achievable.
The Roadmap will drive $80 billion of investment in low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030 and create 160,000 jobs.
We are reducing emissions in a way that transforms industries through the power of technology, not through taxes that destroy them and the jobs and livelihoods they support and create.
We are focused on getting low emissions energy sources to commercial parity with high-emitting alternatives to reduce emissions across all sectors of the economy while creating jobs and economic growth. This is a practical approach with global application.
Australia is driving increased global cooperation on low emissions technologies through new international partnerships with Germany, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom and constructive engagement in multilateral forms like Mission Innovation.
When it comes to emissions reduction, our record is one of delivery and achievement that Australians can be proud of.
Our technology-led approach to reducing emissions will see Australia continue to playing its part in the global effort to combat climate change without compromising our economy or jobs.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Member for Hume