POWER UP: Ten climate gamechangers

13.09.22 By , , , , and
This content is more than one year old

Powerup is a set of ten energy gamechangers that will help get Australia on track to tackle both the climate crisis and our cost-of living crisis. 

Over this decade, we will need to get on a steep trajectory of emissions reductions, with existing efforts ramped up significantly and quickly.

Australia has already warmed by around 1.4°C and is suffering significant losses from accelerating climate change. Worse is on the way as extreme weather events – such as bushfires, floods, heatwaves and droughts – occur more often, and become more severe. To avoid the worst climate impacts, global emissions must halve this decade and we must reach net zero in the early 2040s.

As a wealthy country with extraordinary renewable resources, Australia should aim to reduce its emissions by 75 per cent this decade, and reach net zero emissions shortly after. Power Up can help us get there.

Key findings

1. Australia’s journey to net zero is only beginning. Over the next eight years to 2030, we will need to get on a steep trajectory of emissions reductions, with existing efforts ramped up significantly and quickly.

2. By reducing Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels like coal and gas the Federal Government can address climate change, as well as our energy and cost-of-living crises.

10 climate game changers

3. There is an acute shortage of skilled workers across clean industries, and this needs to be rapidly addressed in order for Australia to be able to race towards net zero.

4. To get emissions falling as fast and far as possible by 2030, we need to electrify our vehicles, find new ways of moving people around and reduce the need to travel.

5. The Federal Government needs to put its money where its mouth is by supporting households and industry to move away from fossil fuels, and phasing out any taxpayer support for coal, oil or gas.