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Publish date: September 29, 2014
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ClimateWorks Australia and the Australian National University (ANU) have taken the lead in preparing this report for Australia as part of the 2050 Deep Decarbonisation Pathways Project (DDPP), coordinated by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The DDPP aims to prepare transparent and practical national pathways to help countries adapt and implement policies to achieve deep decarbonisation. Moreover, the project aims to facilitate positive outcomes at 2014 UN Climate Summit as well as at the 2015 Conference of the Parties (COP-21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The ambitious decarbonisation plan for Australia presented by this report was developed using a combination of well-established modelling tools to identify feasible and least-costly options.
While some industries would have to undergo major technological transformations, no fundamental changes are required for Australia’s economy or lifestyle. In fact, the report finds that Australia can reach net zero emissions by 2050 while allowing the economy to continue growing at a similar rate as today – 2.4% of GDP per year. Australia’s decarbonisation pathway relies on greatly improved energy efficiency across the economy, what would be a nearly carbon free power system, and switching to low carbon energy sources in transport, buildings and industry. In addition to these three pillars that are common to all countries, Australia’s pathway also involves reducing non-energy emissions in industry and agriculture.
The report is positive in stating that technologies needed to make this decarbonisation possible are currently available or under development. In the electricity sector, for instance, multiple options are available to reach zero emissions. Removing CO2 from electricity is crucial in the Australian decarbonisation strategy and is easier than in many other countries, given the country’s great potential for renewable energy and CCS. Non-energy emissions from industry are reduced through substituting less emissions-intensive materials, process improvements and CCS.
A successful low carbon transition requires a thorough understanding of the options, opportunities and challenges. It also needs long-term policy signals to encourage the investment decisions needed for a decarbonised economy.
To read the report click here.
Recent attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant "mark the beginning of a new and gravely dangerous front of the war," the UN atomic agency's director general said last week.
After years of inaction, Germany is working on its Carbon Management Strategy to resolve how CCS can play a role in climate action in industry. At the end of February, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action published first key points and a proposal to amend the law Kohlenstoffdioxid Speicherungsgesetz (KSpG). Bellona Deutschland, who was actively involved in the previous stakeholder dialogue submitted a statement in the association hearing.
In the midst of a global discussion on whether natural gas should be used as a transitional fuel and whether emissions from its extraction, production, transport and use are significantly less than those from other fossil fuels, Russia has developed ambitious plans to increase its own production of liquified natural gas (LNG) in the Arctic – a region with 75% of proven gas reserves in Russia – to raise its share in the international gas trade.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our main focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution risks and climate change.