AUSTRALIA must triple its emissions cuts within the next decade and reach net zero emissions soon after to protect Australians from the impacts of accelerating climate change, a new Climate Council report says.

As momentum for climate action grows around the world, the Aim High, Go fast: Why emissions need to plummet this decade report explains why all efforts to stabilise the climate system should focus on steps taken in the 2020s. A smart, achievable, and scientifically-backed contribution from Australia is a 75 percent cut in emissions (below 2005 levels) by 2030, and reaching net zero emissions by 2035.

Lead author and Climate Council spokesman, Professor Will Steffen, said Australia was already experiencing the deadly consequences of global warming, with worsening megafires, floods, and heatwaves affecting communities across the country.

“There is no safe level of global warming, and every fraction of a degree of avoided heating matters,” Professor Steffen said. “In fact, the actions Australia and the rest of the world take this decade will determine if the climate system can be stabilised at a level that minimises the risk of catastrophic impacts such as abrupt, irreversible changes. 

Professor Steffen said moving slowly in addressing climate change would harm Australians almost as badly as not acting at all.

“Australia is effectively standing still, while the rest of the world—including our strategic allies and trading partners—race towards net zero emissions. Our country is incredibly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and if we act swiftly we can join the global effort to not only minimise further harm but we can also set ourselves up for a prosperous future,” he said.

“We have the natural resources, technology, and skills to become a world leader in renewable technologies and clean industries. We can create jobs and economic opportunities here, and export our solutions to other countries to accelerate their progress too,” he said.

Report key findings:

• Multiple lines of evidence strongly suggest that we can no longer limit warming to 1.5°C without significant overshoot and subsequent drawdown, and that the global average temperature rise will exceed 1.5°C during the 2030s. 
• We can still hold global average temperature to well below 2°C. To achieve this goal, all countries must collectively halve global emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040.
• Given Australia’s renewable energy resources and high emissions, it should cut emissions by 75% below 2005 levels by 2030, and reach net zero by 2035.
• Despite our natural advantages, Australia is being left behind in the new, clean economy race. Many of our strategic allies and major trading partners have already strengthened their climate commitments for this decade, or intend to do so.
• The change in US government has ushered in a new era of international climate cooperation. All commitments must be scaled up and the pace of action accelerated so that the lion’s share emissions cuts occur this decade.

“We are seeing leadership—from states and territories, from communities and from many businesses. They’ve shown us what can be achieved when we’re determined. They are already enjoying the many benefits that decarbonizing our economy delivers such as regional jobs, cleaner cities and cheaper power,” said Professor Steffen.

“It’s time for Australia to get ahead of the curve, and act swiftly and decisively on global warming. Ultimately, this is about protecting Australian lives, protecting our unique ecosystems and wildlife, and safeguarding livelihoods. This is what acting in our national interests looks like,” he said.

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