While the 2022 Australian federal election signaled a positive change in the way the country is responding to climate change, the country’s love affair with vehicles seems unlikely to end anytime soon. Australia has high rates of vehicle ownership, with the 2021 Australian census demonstrating that by 31st January 2021 the country had 20.1 million...
Category: Australia News Brief and Action Alert
Climate Change is a Central Concern for Australia’s Financial Stability
This post examines the loss and damage that climate change is expected to have on Australia between now and 2050. Assessments of climate change loss and damage are a key aspect of the Paris Agreement’s ongoing UNFCCC-sponsored Global Stocktake, an effort to assess the ability of the Paris Agreement to meet its goals. Loss and...
Results of Federal Election in Australia Bode Well for Climate Action
Australia has endured a series of devastating climate events over the past three years. The horrific bushfires of 2019-2020 captured global attention and an outpouring of donations to wildlife rescue and other conservation charities, while the continuous flooding of urban areas in northern New South Wales in early 2022 has led to billions in damages...
Australia: Climate Progress Indicators
Quarterly data on energy use, agriculture, land use, industrial processes, and more available from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory In Post 49, three indicators for assessing Australia’s progress towards its climate emissions goals were identified: Greenhouse gas emissions by Australian Corporations (annual), full carbon accounting model (annual) and electricity generation by fossil fuels (annual)....
Young Australians Want More Action On Climate Change and Natural Hazard Risk Preparation
In February 2020 the Australian Institute for Disaster Relief joined with World Vision to complete the largest ever Australian youth survey on climate change and disaster risk: “Our World, Our Say” (see below). Age and gender of participants in the ‘Our World, Our Say’ survey of Australian youth in February 2020 (Source).More than 80% of...
Australian Government Prioritizes Natural Gas Production While Certain States and Territories Seek to Decrease Usage
Australia is party to the Paris Agreement, under which, it had pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. However, Australia’s economy is heavily reliant on the fossil fuel industry – the major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.In 2020, Australia was ranked as the world’s 7th highest natural gas producer, with an annual production...
Australia: Climate Progress Report
KEY INDICATORS Greenhouse gas emissions by Australian Corporations (Annual) The greenhouse gases emissions include release of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and specified kinds of hydro fluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons. This indicator will be able to advise us on the progress of Australia’s goal in achieving 50% reduction. Australia currently...
Climate Justice in Australia
HIGHLIGHTS Communities living near coal-fired power plants in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania NARRATIVE Coal combustion produces hazardous air pollutants which include sulphur dioxide, mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and arsenic. As per Environmental Justice Australia’s analysis report, Australia’s coal mines have increased PM10 particles by 61% in...
Australia: The 2021 Climate Year in Review
HIGHLIGHTS Next Generation Electric Bus Depot Project Australia’s Partnership with Papua New Guinea and Fiji to Reduce Emissions Climate Services for Agriculture Program Prototype Australia’s Long Term Emission Reduction Plan (presented at COP 26) NARRATIVE Next Generation Electric Bus Deport Project One fifth of Australia’s emissions come from transport. Therefore, vehicle electrification is required to...
Strategic Priorities for Australia
Priorities Adopt Energy Management System Standard ISO 50001 Establish National Renewable Energy Information Centres Use Low Emissions Carbon Materials (Steel and Aluminium) Narrative Adapt energy management system standard (ISO 50001) Greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector make up 28% of total emissions in Australia. Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate...