Australians are living with the everyday consequences of climate change. Heatwaves are hotter and last longer; while droughts, intense rainfall and dangerous bushfire conditions are more frequent and severe. This is already testing the limits of our capacity to cope
Australians are living with the everyday consequences of climate change. Heatwaves are hotter and last longer; while droughts, intense rainfall and dangerous bushfire conditions are more frequent and severe. This is already testing the limits of our capacity to cope, and we must work quickly to avoid catastrophe.
To protect Australians and do its fair share to limit dangerous climate change, we recommend Australia reduces its national greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 (on 2005 levels). What we choose to do this decade will determine the standard of living of every Australian for generations to come. With our abundant renewable energy potential, virtually no other country on Earth is better placed to achieve this. However, this will not happen if we continue to rely on existing policies and business as usual.
From 2022, the Australian Government must begin rolling out a comprehensive series of policies and programs that reduce emissions across the entire economy: from cleaning up our transport fleet to phasing out coal and gas; upgrading the transmission network and supporting innovation for agriculture and industry. We must also better prepare for the climate impacts that are already locked in: primarily worsening extreme weather, including bushfires and droughts.
The Climate Council has set out a comprehensive list of pragmatic policies that the next Australian Government must implement. It is divided into six sections:
- How to turn Australia into a climate leader
- Preparing Australia for worsening extreme weathe