In an interview at the IEA's Paris headquarters, the Turkish economist and energy expert said Australia was in the "top three" countries around the globe where the energy debate was off the rails. The drought, bushfire crisis and record-breaking temperatures have fuelled a fresh debate about climate change and whether the Morrison government is doing enough to lower emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030 as set out under the Paris climate accord. While Dr Birol would not explicitly list Australia as a country not meeting its emissions reduction goal, he said the global community was "absolutely off track". "We are not even close to the Paris goals and what I find very dangerous is that there is a growing disconnect between the calls from scientists and what is happening in real life," he said. "Almost the entire world is far from meeting the Paris targets. I don’t want to single out this country or that country. Honestly [it is] the entire world. You cannot show me one country which says 'I have this amount of emissions' and 'I am making this big decline'."

National emissions have been rising in Australia since the abolition of the carbon tax, but flatlined in the last financial year due to the drought and growth in renewable energy. "In no country, especially a developed country like Australia, increases in emissions is not good news. We have to see emissions decline," Dr Birol said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video He said Australia was a "responsible country" and "should take steps in line with the reputation it has around the world". Newly released Department of Environment and Energy projections shows Australian carbon dioxide emissions would need to fall by 462 megatonnes between 2021 and 2031 to achieve the 28 per cent reduction pledged at Paris. The government has argued it will achieve that by cutting pollution as well as using controversial 'carry-over' credits from the Kyoto protocol.

Dr Birol, who is also the chair of the World Economic Forum's energy advisory board, said the overwhelming percentage of global emissions originated from the energy sector and urged a technology agnostic approach to the dilemma. Loading "Without fixing the problems in the energy sector and sorting out that, we have no chance of reaching our climate goals," he said. "I know the lifetime of [the NEG] was not very long, but I still believe that there is a system needed in Australia which brings emissions down, and secures electricity supply. This is very important and I hope the discussions do not become victim to political ambitions." Describing coal as the "nerve centre" of the climate debate, the IEA chief conceded Australia would remain a major exporter to the booming Asian market but said other technologies were available to mitigate domestic reliance on fossil fuels, citing carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and solar.

"You have the financial means, you have the citizens who support it and you have the wonderful innovative brains within the country," Dr Birol said, adding he felt "so much pity" Australia had not led on carbon capture and storage technology. "The Australian energy debate should have much more wider perspective," he said. "Rather than looking only at one tree, we should see the whole forest that is there." Energy Minister Angus Taylor said Australia was taking "real and meaningful action" to reduce emissions. "Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is an area where Australia has a global competitive advantage," he said. Mr Taylor said the government was examining ways to increase carbon capture and storage through the $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund. Mr Taylor and Dr Birol met on the sidelines of last week's Madrid climate summit and had a positive discussion about Australia's approach to hydrogen and fuel security.