Australia is far behind similar economies in terms of carbon pollution per person and emission intensity.

It’s projected to fall even further behind because, unlike other nations, Australia has no effective national policy to drive down greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Australia is projected to increase its overall greenhouse gas emissions by 8.6% above 2005 levels by 2030, far away from the emission reductions Australia promised the world by 2030 (16-18% below 2005 levels after factoring out forests & land use change emissions).

Australia’s emissions have been climbing in almost every sector except electricity. Leaving out the uncertain land use and forestry emissions (LULUCF), the only sustained drop was experienced while the carbon price was in operation from 2012 to 2014.

There are many actions Australia can take now to start cutting emissions and get on to a path towards a zero-emissions economy.

There are many good reasons to make the transition to a green, zero-emissions society, a society that works for people, the environment and the economy. Avoiding the multiple, interacting damaging and potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change is just one aspect; building the economy of the future is another.