The Climate Change Authority (the Authority) is reviewing the potential technology transition and emission pathways that will best support Australia’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050 for six sectors: agriculture and land, built environment, electricity and energy, industry and waste, resources, and transport.

As part of this process, the Authority has released its 2024 Targets, Pathways and Progress Paper (the Issues Paper) for public consultation.

Climateworks Centre believes this paper will facilitate an important national conversation on climate action and values the opportunity to contribute.

We support the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and believe the recommendations made in our submission could enhance and enable the ambition outlined in the Issues Paper.

Climateworks has conducted extensive whole-of-economy scenario modelling to determine emissions reduction pathways for Australia compatible with Paris Agreement climate goals.

Climateworks’ scenario analysis shows Australia can still achieve an emissions reduction trajectory compatible with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, however it will require an 85 per cent reduction by 2035, based on 2005 levels.

Climateworks has engaged extensively with the Authority’s work to set, track and achieve Australia’s emissions reduction targets. That has included sharing our scenario modelling in previous public and private consultation processes.

Our submission draws on a range of Climateworks’ modelling and research, in particular:

Editor’s note: This page was updated in August 2024 to include a link to our Decarbonising Australia’s transport sector report.