News

Today our CEO, Brad Archer, is attending the Committee for Economic Development of Australia’s (CEDA) second annual Climate and Energy Forum in Brisbane. Mr Archer participated in a panel discussion at the event, discussing how we can deliver a fair and prosperous net zero future for Australia. 

Mr Archer also recently contributed an opinion article for CEDA(Opens in a new tab/window).

Mr Archer wrote, ‘Accelerating the rollout of proven, cost-effective solutions across the economy is fundamental to meeting the 2030 target and laying the foundations to achieve future, more ambitious targets.

‘The challenges we face also include collectively embracing, planning for and implementing change as a society, and identifying and pursuing new opportunities and new ways of doing things. As we note in our recent consultation paper, planning the pathways and sharing the benefits and burdens will be essential to achieving an orderly and just transition.

‘With a clear strategy, sustained focus and real cooperation, Australia can meet its targets and prosper in a low-emissions world.’ 

Learn more about CEDA’s Climate and Energy Forum(Opens in a new tab/window).

The Climate Change Authority is inviting Australians to have their say on 2035 emissions reduction targets to be included in Australia’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. 

The authority has today released an issues paper entitled Targets, Pathways and Progress, presenting its latest thinking on its three major projects. 

This year the authority will be advising government on Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, pathways for 6 sectors to support Australia achieve net zero by 2050 (electricity and energy, transport, industry and waste, agriculture and land, resources and the built environment), and the Minister’s third Annual Climate Change Statement to Parliament. 

“The evidence we have considered so far suggests a 2035 emissions reduction target in the range of 65% to 75% below 2005 levels would be ambitious, and could be achievable if additional action is taken by governments, business, investors and households,” said Brad Archer, CEO of the authority. 

“In developing our advice we are looking at the latest science, economic data, technological developments, and the opportunities and impacts for Australians, including First Nations peoples and those in rural and regional areas” Mr Archer said. 

“To assist the authority finalise its recommendations to the government, we invite Australians to respond to the 14 questions detailed in the issues paper. 

“We also want to hear personal perspectives and experiences with climate change, and suggestions about how Australian governments can support the wellbeing of workers, communities and regions as the nation decarbonises,” Mr Archer said. 

The authority will provide its advice on sectoral pathways by 1 August, and on Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, as well as its third annual progress report, to the government later this year. 

Submissions can be made via the authority’s Consultation Hub(Opens in a new tab/window) until 17:00 AEST on 14 May 2024.

The following related information is available on the authority’s website:

Sectoral Pathways Project

2035 Emissions reduction targets

CCA Glossary

Media inquiries:
E: commsandmedia@climatechangeauthority.gov.au 
P: 1800 475 869

The Climate Change Authority is pleased to launch its second Reconciliation Action Plan.

The authority’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan 2024-2025 sets out measurable and achievable actions that the authority will take over the next twelve months to contribute to national reconciliation.

The authority considers that Australia serves to benefit from becoming a more inclusive society, one in which institutions, communities and individuals are encouraged to celebrate the unique and important contributions that have been made and continue to be made by its First Nations peoples.

We are focused on the role that reconciliation can play in developing meaningful mitigation and adaptation policies in response to a changing climate.

Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan February 2024-2025 [PDF]  

Reconciliation Action Plan

Cover artwork: Natalie L. Simmons

Today, the Climate Change Authority published public submissions made in response to the consultation paper: Economic modelling of Australia’s potential emissions reduction pathways(Opens in a new tab/window) and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Survey(Opens in a new tab/window).

The authority received submissions in response to its modelling consultation paper from 22 organisations and individuals across Australia, 19 of which agreed to publication.

The NGER scheme survey attracted 69 responses from a range of organisations and individuals, 21 of which agreed to publication.

The authority analysed all input received through these consultation activities. Analysis of responses to the NGER scheme survey contributed to the development of the authority’s 2023 NGER Act Review.

The authority will continue to take account of stakeholder feedback in formulating the authority’s approach to modelling. The feedback received through this process will inform the authority’s advice on sectoral pathways to net zero and Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets.

The authority thanks everyone who provided input. These contributions improve the quality of the authority’s analysis and provide evidence to help inform the authority’s recommendations.

Submissions can be viewed and downloaded below:

• Economic modelling of Australia’s potential emissions reduction pathways(Opens in a new tab/window)
• NGER Scheme Survey(Opens in a new tab/window)

To receive updates about the Climate Change Authority's work, upcoming consultation opportunities and climate change news, you can subscribe here(Opens in a new tab/window). 

2023 Reviews of Climate Schemes

Climate change schemes need to evolve to remain fit-for-purpose in a rapidly changing emissions and abatement landscape. The Climate Change Authority has recommended changes to improve the operation and transparency of key schemes for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and crediting emissions reductions.

In its latest reviews, the authority says the targeted changes are required to ensure the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act 2007 and the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, including the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme, remain fit-for-purpose as Australia aims to meet its 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets.  

The NGER Scheme, which is used to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions and energy production and use, continues to be integral to meeting Australia’s international energy and emissions reporting obligations, tracking progress on emissions reductions and informing climate change policy development. However, the authority has found there is demand for more detailed emissions and energy data, the potential to improve the accuracy of some emissions estimates and the opportunity to broaden the coverage of the scheme.

The ACCU Scheme credits projects that avoid the release of emissions or remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. While ambitious and urgent cuts to emissions are the priority, the Scheme can help smooth and accelerate the transition to net zero emissions.

To ensure that the ACCU Scheme continues to credit real and additional abatement, the authority recommends abatement calculation methods be reviewed and updated to keep pace with developments in science, technology, government policies and markets.

It is the first time the authority’s reviews of the ACCU and NGER schemes have coincided. They form a timely prelude to the authority’s forthcoming advice to government on sectoral pathways to net zero emissions and Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, due for completion in 2024.

Media release     

2023 NGER Review

2023 ACCU Scheme Review     

The Climate Change Authority has published the advice and 42 recommendations it provided to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy on 27 October. The authority’s advice is a key input to the government’s Annual Climate Change Statement and is required under the Climate Change Act 2022. 

The authority’s second Annual Progress Report finds the Australian Government is pursuing a broad and deep climate change policy agenda, but this has yet to translate into the emissions reductions needed. Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions were 467 million tonnes in the year ending June 2023, an increase of four million tonnes. To achieve a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared with 2005 levels, and net zero emissions by 2050, Australia will need to decarbonise at an average annual rate of 17 million tonnes. 

The authority’s 42 recommendations focus on decarbonising each sector of the economy and supporting Australia becoming a prosperous, resilient, net zero economy. Many recommendations call on the Australian government and states and territories to work more cooperatively to achieve policy objectives to meet the legislated 2030 target. While governments hold the policy levers to guide businesses and individuals to choices that support Australia’s climate change goals, the necessary changes go beyond the reach of any government acting alone.

Successful policy implementation will be crucial for achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets.

The authority’s Media Release can be found here: [PDF] [WORD]

The Annual Progress Report 2023 can be found here.

The Climate Change Authority has today published all public submissions made to our May 2023 Issues Paper: Setting, tracking and achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets.  (Opens in a new tab/window)

The authority received submissions from 323 organisations and individuals across Australia, 272 of which agreed to the authority publishing their submission online.

The authority has analysed the submissions and will continue to take account of contents in formulating advice to government, including the 2023 Annual Progress Report, the Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) Scheme review, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act review, advice on sectoral pathways to net zero and Australia’s 2035 targets.  To receive information about further consultation opportunities, sign up here(Opens in a new tab/window).

We would like to thank everyone who made a submission. These contributions improve the quality of our analysis and provide evidence to help inform our recommendations.

Submissions can be viewed and downloaded here(Opens in a new tab/window).

You can contact us via consultation@climatechangeauthority.gov.au.

A new CSIRO report provides valuable information on the potential to lower the costs of sequestration technologies, which in turn could lead to greater uptake.

The CSIRO Sequestration Cost Reduction Workshops Report synthesises a series of expert workshops held to test the potential for technical innovation to reduce costs and increase carbon sequestration uptake across various technologies and approaches. 

Growth in carbon sequestration, complementing strong and urgent emissions cuts, is critical to achieving the global goal of net zero emissions by 2050 and net negative emissions in the second half of the century. 

The report is part of a two-year project collaboration between the Climate Change Authority, the CSIRO and the Clean Energy Regulator to understand and unlock Australia’s carbon sequestration potential.

More than 60 experts from industry, academia and government advised on innovation options for carbon sequestration approaches from planted vegetation and savanna fire management to direct air capture of carbon dioxide. 

Some technologies examined are currently in the early stages of development, costly and not widely used; others are widely deployed, but further expansion of their use would help lower technology costs and support national abatement goals. 

Key findings from the workshops include:

• All the sequestration approaches examined in the workshops have technical innovation options available that can lower costs; with less mature technologies (such as direct air capture, biomass/biochar and mineral carbonation) having greater potential for cost reduction and accelerated uptake.
• Innovations in blue carbon could reduce costs by around 40% on current costs. 
• Innovations in planted vegetation sequestration could result in cost reductions of approximately 10 to 30%. 
• Good opportunities exist to lower the costs of mineral carbonation sequestration, a technology currently in the early stages of development. 

CSIRO’s Sequestration Cost Reduction Workshops Report is available here(Opens in a new tab/window). 

Read more about the Authority’s carbon sequestration potential project here.
 

The Climate Change Authority invites you to join a webinar 11.30am-1pm (AEDT) on Tuesday 17 October 2023. The webinar is an opportunity to learn about and discuss the authority’s latest thinking in its review of the ACCU Scheme.

In this, our fourth review of the legislation that enables the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme, we are focusing on:  

• Securing integrity – focusing on additionality, permanence and leakage. 
• Valuing non-carbon outcomes – including First Nations people’s engagement.
• Managing supply and demand - including land use competition and supporting participation. Intersection with the Safeguard Mechanism is also considered, in relation to demand. 
• Scaling emissions removals – including how the scheme can support engineered removals. 
• Alignment with the Paris Agreement – including international trade considerations. 

The authority’s secretariat will outline the approach taken to the review, draft findings, and latest thinking about potential recommendations. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and join the conversation.

Please register to join the webinar here(Opens in a new tab/window).

If you have any questions about the event or the review, please contact us via consultation@climatechangeauthority.gov.au 
 

The Australian Parliament has requested that the Climate Change Authority (CCA) review the potential technology transition and emissions pathways that best support Australia’s transition to net zero by 2050 for the following sectors:

• Electricity and energy
• Transport
• Industry and waste
• Agriculture and land
• Resources
• Built environment.

The authority must identify opportunities, technologies, barriers, workforce matters, information gaps, and the role of public and private finance in its review of sectoral pathways.

The review was requested under Section 59 of the Climate Change Authority Act (2011) and will be delivered by 1 August 2024. The terms of reference are set out below.

The authority welcomes the opportunity to consult widely and provide advice to government on decarbonisation pathway. Through examining each sector’s opportunities to achieve emissions reductions and barriers that might stand in the way, the sectoral pathways review will outline how Australia could achieve net zero by 2050, and how far sectors could go by 2035. 

Work is already underway in the authority to develop advice on Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, due to government no earlier than 1 October 2024. 

In the months ahead, the authority will also deliver its advice for the Minister’s annual climate change statement and reviews of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme and Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme. 

The sectoral pathways review was requested under Section 59 of the Climate Change Authority Act (2011) and will be delivered by 1 August 2024.