Submission to the Climate Change Authority’s consultation on setting, tracking and achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets
Australia has major opportunities in a net zero global economy from its renewable energy and mineral resources. However, Australia’s current high emissions intensity means that there are many challenges to transform the economy and reach net zero emissions.
10.07.23
Brief for policy-makers: Renewable energy industrial precincts
Australia’s industrial regions play an essential role in the nation’s economy. They also produce a significant proportion of Australia’s emissions and contribute considerably to the country’s energy use. Five regions alone – Gladstone, Pilbara, Kwinana, Hunter, and Illawarra – supply a combined A$166 billion to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product and employ 2.9 per cent of Australia’s workforce. They also account for more than 16 per cent of Australia’s Greenhouse Gas emissions each year (Climateworks Centre and Climate-KIC Australia 2022).
04.05.23
The Briefing Room: How to decarbonise industry in Australia – Part 1
With a revised safeguard mechanism and other climate policies now in place, the table is set for Australia to transition to net zero emissions.
17.04.23
Taking on transition: Impact report 2022
Anna Skarbek, CEO of Climateworks Centre, introduces the organisation’s 2022 impact report. In 2022, the global community held firm in its commitment to a net zero future, amidst a challenging year with continued impacts from the COVID pandemic, war in Ukraine, energy security concerns and rising living costs worldwide.
01.03.23
Submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s consultation on the Powering the Regions Fund
Climateworks supports the government’s creation of funds such as the Powering the Regions Fund to support rapid economic transition to a net zero emissions economy.
17.02.23
Submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ consultation on the National Reconstruction Fund
Climateworks supports the government’s creation of funds such as the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF). We see a strong benefit from government financing to support the rapid transition to a net zero global economy, back regional industry and deliver secure jobs of the future.
17.02.23
Submission to Treasury on Measuring What Matters
Climateworks supports the development by Treasury of a Measuring What Matters Statement, and the development of an Australian framework for wellbeing to complement traditional fiscal macro-economic indicators.
13.02.23
Government climate action: Leading policies and programs in Australia
This report analyses targets, policies and programs announced by Australian federal, state and territory governments, with a focus on policies introduced since the publication of our previous report on state and territory climate action. Building on previous emissions reduction commitments (our 2021 report found that state and territory interim targets translated to an estimated 37–42 per cent reduction below 2005 emissions by 2030, Australia-wide) the states and territories continue to increase their climate action, allocating billions of dollars to emissions reduction measures and making significant regulatory and legislative changes. At a national level, the federal government this year legislated national emissions reduction targets of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, reflecting an increase in ambition.
06.12.22
The Briefing Room: 2022 climate review
Hear from our experts as they track this year’s Australian corporate and government progress towards a 1.5°C future. The 2022 Australian federal election shifted the national conversation on decarbonisation, and resulted in an increase in Australia’s ambition for emissions reduction.
28.11.22
Submission on Victoria’s emissions reduction target for 2035
Note: In this submission provided to the Victorian Government in May 2022, we recommended Victoria set a 2035 emissions reduction target of 75-80 per cent below 2005 levels, based on a 1.5 degrees Celsius least cost pathway for Australia.
20.10.22
The Briefing Room: The 1.5°C challenge and why Australia is well-placed to meet it
This webinar has been postponed. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated about future Climateworks events. Join us as we share our modelling insights and assessments of emerging policy trends.
31.08.22
The briefing room: Decarbonising regional Australia
Australia’s regions face growing uncertainty as shifts to decarbonise global supply chains risk leaving industrial regions behind. Yet the global shifts present enormous opportunities for economic growth while significantly reducing emissions across the country.
16.05.22
ASEAN Green Future – Phase 1 Reports
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are already raising their climate commitments to meet the Paris Agreement aspiration of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
29.11.21
Climateworks Australia’s submission to the Inquiry into Renewable Energy in Victoria
In November 2021, Climateworks had the opportunity to respond to the Inquiry into Renewable Energy in Victoria. Climateworks supports transitioning Victoria to 100 per cent renewable energy.
26.11.21
Climateworks Australia’s submission to the draft bill for amending Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008
In November 2021, Climateworks had the opportunity to respond to the consultation process on the draft bill for amending Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008. Climateworks congratulates the Tasmanian Government on continuing its leading action on climate change through this amendment of its Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008.
12.11.21
State and territory climate action: Leading policies and programs in Australia
All Australian state and territory governments are now committed to net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. These commitments cover all emissions produced within Australia’s borders.
14.10.21
State and corporate climate action – closing in on 1.5
Ambitious targets are just part of the equation for a 1.5 degree future. For decision makers in both business and government, the question is: how do we get there?
05.10.21
Climateworks Australia submission to Queensland’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Strategy
In July 2021 Climateworks had to opportunity to provide input to Queensland’s new Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Strategy. The submission draws from our Decarbonisation Futures scenario modelling, our Moving to Zero transport report, and a comparison of current Queensland zero-emissions vehicles policy and leading policies inother states and territories.
15.07.21
Climateworks submissions to the review of Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 and the consultation on Tasmania’s next climate change action plan
The independent review of Tasmania’s Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008 provides an opportunity to bring Tasmania’s legislation in line with the state’s ambition to be a world leader on climate change, and in line with the state’s unique emissions profile.
13.05.21
Climateworks Submission on the Climate Change 2020 Bills.
A Climate Change Act for Australia would create structure and transparency at the national level so that the nation can meet the goals of the Paris Agreement in an effective manner.
17.12.20
Building our future event series – Sustainable finance: Pathways, policy and trends
On Tuesday 8 December 2020 Climateworks and the British High Comission hosted a discussion on pathways to a robust and competitive sustainable finance sector in Australia.
17.11.20
Building our future event series – The business of net zero
The race is on to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century. On Tuesday 24 November our expert panel discussed where climate ambition is strongest globally, which countries and companies are leading the way, and how others can catch them.
17.11.20
Building our future event series – Clean technology: Energy and industry transitions
The race is on to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century. In the first of Climateworks and the British High Commission’s ‘Building our Future’ webinar series, our panel of experts discussed what it takes to unlock the potential of clean technology, the progress we’ve made around the world in clean energy transition, and what still needs to be done.
16.10.20
Recover and reduce – Prudent investments to boost the economy and lower emissions
The COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly affecting all Australian jurisdictions and sectors. The economic fallout is ongoing, unresolved, and the full extent of the impacts are unknown.
14.10.20
The briefing room: Growth through transformation – how governments can unlock investments that achieve climate and development goals
Achieving the Paris Agreement along with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires an estimated investment of US$2.6 trillion each year over the next decade for developing countries alone.
11.10.20
Growth through transformation: An investment vision guide for climate and development
To achieve outcomes in line with both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, developing countries will require an estimated investment of US$2.6 trillion each year over the next decade.
14.09.20
Submission to the Australian Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap Discussion Paper
Climateworks has made a submission to the Australian Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap Discussion Paper. Climateworks welcomes the paper’s recognition of the suite of solutions available to reduce Australian emissions.
07.07.20
The briefing room: Decarbonisation Futures
In April 2020 Climateworks Australia launched Decarbonisation Futures, which sets out detailed evidence of how major sectors of the Australian economy can move to net zero emissions and keep warming below 2 degrees, and even 1.5 degrees.
30.04.20
Decarbonisation Futures: Solutions, actions and benchmarks for a net zero emissions Australia
Climateworks’ seminal report shows how technologies in each sector can achieve climate goals in Australia when rebuilding the economy to be resilient for the future.
04.04.20
Submission to the Government of Western Australia on Climate Change
In December 2019 Climateworks took the opportunity to respond to the Government of Western Australia’s Climate change in Western Australia Issues paper – September 2019.
28.01.20
How to read a marginal abatement cost curve
A marginal abatement cost curve – or MACC – is simple to understand when you break it down. In this context, ‘abatement’ means ‘reducing’.
08.11.19
Low carbon opportunities for Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam
The global economy is transitioning towards cleaner and less carbon-intensive forms of growth. Southeast Asia could be at the forefront of this emerging ‘green race.’ How can Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam take advantage of growing low-carbon markets?
23.07.19
Australian National Outlook
The year is 2060, and what does Australia look like? Have we harnessed social, economic and environmental opportunities? Or are we in a slow decline?
17.06.19
Decarbonisation futures: industry
Can we reduce emissions and grow our industrial sector by transforming the way we extract, make and supply goods? Decarbonisation Futures: Industry has found that there are innovations that can help reduce emissions while growing industry in Australia.
01.11.18
Decarbonisation Futures: buildings
Can innovation in buildings help shift our trajectory towards decarbonisation? The buildings sector is the driver of about a fifth of Australia’s emissions.
01.11.18
SMART tool
This Strategic Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience Tool (SMART) is a downloadable Excel resource which accompanies the Horizon to Horizon guide. It has been designed to help Pacific Island leaders identify and better understand interactions between mitigation actions and adaptation and resilience priorities.
25.09.18
Horizon to horizon
Pacific Island countries face unique challenges and vulnerabilities. As a result, countries must chart their own path towards a desirable, prosperous and sustainable future.
25.09.18
Tracking progress to net zero emissions
Australia is not on track to reach emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. But opportunities exist in proven technologies across electricity, industry, buildings, land and transport.
06.09.18
How emerging economies can prosper in a rapidly decarbonising world
Growing prosperity does not require growing emissions. Southeast Asia and the Pacific have the chance to leapfrog redundant technologies and thrive in a decarbonised world.
05.03.18
Taking the long view
Strong economic growth can be achieved without increasing emissions. A long term approach to avoiding emissions growth is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
03.11.17
The global transition to a two degree economy has begun: here’s how you can prepare
The global transition to a two degree economy has begun. Pressure is increasing on companies and investors to plan for the global transition to a low carbon economy in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate change presents significant and unique challenges to many companies.
12.05.17
Submission to the review of Australia’s climate change policies
Australia should set a long term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Australia has committed to the Paris Agreement which sets out collective global action to avoid dangerous climate change.
09.05.17
A prosperous, net zero pollution Australia starts today
Australia has an opportunity. We can do our fair share, helping to keep global warming below two degrees, while creating a cleaner, modern, and more sustainable future.
26.11.15
Pathways to deep decarbonisation in 2050: how Australia can prosper in a low carbon world
Australia can prosper in a low carbon world. Cost-effective technologies already exist to reach net zero emissions by mid-century. In 2014, as part of the global 2050 Deep Decarbonisation Pathways Project, Climateworks and the Australian National University published ‘Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation by 2050: How Australia can prosper in a low carbon world’.
22.09.14
Tracking progress towards a low carbon economy
‘Tracking progress’ is the first whole-of-economy report on Australia’s progress in reducing emissions. The report covers key sectors – power, industry, buildings, land use, and waste.
30.07.13
Low carbon lifestyles: A practical guide for households
Householders can save money on their electricity bill while reducing their impact on the environment. The Low Carbon Lifestyles report, commissioned by Origin Energy and prepared by Climateworks and CSIRO, identifies different actions householders can take right now to reduce their energy use or switch to cleaner energy.
16.10.12
Low carbon growth plan for Gippsland
The low carbon growth plan for Gippsland maps out the lowest cost emissions reductions opportunities for the Gippsland region in south-east Victoria.
13.10.11
Low carbon growth plan for Greater Geelong
Greater Geelong is a city of contrasts, spanning a beautiful coastal environment, a thriving urban centre and the natural beauty of regional lakes, hills and plains.
13.05.11
Low carbon growth plan for Australia
The low carbon growth plan is the first economy-wide emissions reduction strategy developed for Australia. It clearly identifies that Australia can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions between now and 2020 at low cost.