Australia needs to hasten cuts to emissions through a faster clean energy rollout and more electric cars to close the gap between forecast reductions and 2035 climate goals.Government projections suggest the nation is tracking towards a 42 per cent emissions reduction on 2005 levels by the end of the decade, just short of the nation’s 43 per cent legislated target for 2030.Yet the 2035 target of a 62-70 per cent emissions reduction on 2005 levels, set by the Labor government in September, is well off track. That’s according to figures from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.Emissions, presently at 28 per cent below 2005 levels, are projected to reach 48 per cent in 2035, lagging well behind the target range.

The federal government has already acknowledged tougher policies would be needed to meet the goal 10 years in the future.

Unveiling the fresh emissions projections and annual climate statement in parliament on Thursday, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said Australia was “close” to achieving the 2030 target.”The emissions projections also show additional work is needed to achieve the 2035 target,” he said.Australia’s emissions goals are a requirement under the Paris Agreement, a global climate pact intended to prevent dangerous temperature rise.Bowen has just returned from the latest round of United Nations climate talks where leaders were warned the world is set to at least temporarily overshoot the 1.5C warming limit, putting Australia at greater risk of harmful floods, fires and other extremes.

The independent Climate Change Authority (CCA) says Australia’s emissions are declining, but “too slowly”.

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“If the 2030 target is to be achieved, the pace of emissions reductions must at least double, compared with the average rate achieved in the past five years,” a separate authority report said.The electricity sector is tasked with the heavy-lifting and while renewables are growing strongly, Labor’s target of 82 per cent clean energy generation by 2030 is at risk of falling short.The CCA’s recommendations centred on fast-tracking the clean energy rollout, including extending the capacity investment scheme beyond 2027 to keep money flowing into solar and wind.Parliament appears to have already made good on a recommendation to reform environmental protection laws, with a fresh deal struck by the Greens and Labor welcomed by a clean industry struggling with stalled approvals.

The Climateworks Centre works to acclerate the transition to net zero emissions with Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It’s head of Australian programs Erwin Jackson said Australia would need to move “further and faster” to meet and beat the targets.

“More work is needed, for example, to curb transport emissions and save people money at the [petrol] bowser,” he said, with transport tracking towards being Australia’s largest source of emissions.

Greens call for further action

Greens leader Larissa Waters said not including a mechanism to stop emissions-intensive projects going ahead in the reworked nature laws was a missed opportunity to narrow the “country mile” between 2035 climate goals and forecast cuts.”The Greens stopped Labor’s plan to fast-track 30-day coal and gas approvals, but Labor point-blank refused to include a climate trigger because they are in bed with the fossil fuel industry,” she said.The federal Coalition has been unconvinced the government’s energy and climate plan will lower power prices, and both the Liberals and Nationals have now decided to dump net zero.Bowen maintains his policies are driving down bills, particularly subsidies for household batteries and incoming free solar offers in the middle of the day.

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