Climate Review: Submission calls for urgent climate and energy action in Australia

05.05.17 By
This content is more than 6 years old

Urgent recommendations to seriously tackle climate change and transition to a clean, secure and affordable energy system have been handed to the Federal Government, as part of the Climate Council’s submission to the 2017 climate policy review.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said more frequent and intense extreme weather events, heatwaves, bushfires and ongoing coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef are all being fuelled by worsening climate change as a direct result of rising greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

“Australia’s pollution continues to go up and up. The Federal Government’s climate review is a critical opportunity to turn Australia from a laggard to a leader, putting in place policies to drive down emissions,” she said.

“We’ve handed them a suite of 9 recommendations to bring Australia up to scratch to seriously tackle climate change, while also transitioning our national energy system to smart, secure and affordable renewable technology and storage.”

The Climate Council submission shows Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, with the country remaining the 16th largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world.

“Australia must cut its greenhouse gas emissions much more deeply and rapidly to contribute its fair share in meeting the climate change challenge. Our submission is a high level roadmap for the Federal Government to finally bring Australia in line with nations who are advancing climate progress.“

McKenzie said the submission comes as the Federal Government continues to charge ahead with planning for the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin – a move which is fundamentally at odds with combating climate change and protecting Australians from worsening extreme weather.

“Any proposal to expand existing fossil fuel projects or open new ones, such as new coal, oil and gas infrastructure risks “locking in” expanded fossil fuel use and exploration for decades into the future. This also carries risks associated with emissions, electricity costs and asset stranding.”

Other Climate Council recommendations include; an increase in emission reduction targets, the rollout of a price (or constraint) on greenhouse gas emissions, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies and no new or expanded fossil fuel projects, an increase uptake in renewables, greater transparency of climate change tracking data and continued funding of CSIRO, BoM and other world class climate organisations in Australia.

For more information please contact Media Advisor Alexia Boland on 0430 511 068

DOWNLOAD THE SUBMISSION HERE