Australia’s Climate Change Bill – Past and Future

“Australia’s Climate Change Bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 43% by 2030.”

In September 2022, Australia announced its Climate Change Bill, setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 43% by 2030, as compared to 2005, and to become net zero by 2050. This presents the first climate legislation since 2011 for a country witnessing the consequences of climate change first-hand. But why is this considered such a significant milestone? 

Previous Climate Inaction 

Australia is the world’s 14th largest GHG emitter, and has the greatest per capita coal emissions worldwide, with evidence suggesting that the average Australian produces five times as much carbon dioxide from coal than anyone else globally. Fossil fuels produce 92% of primary energy in Australia, compared to approximately 80% globally and 61% in the US. 

Australia has made news on several occasions for its climate inaction. They became the first country ever to repeal a national carbon pricing scheme, despite economists’ consensus that carbon pricing is the most effective way to reduce national carbon footprints. This was reiterated when several other countries later announced their own carbon pricing policies, such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. In 2018, it was revealed that Australia is not on target to reduce GHG’s by its previous 2030 target of 26-28%. The Australian government was also criticized for not increasing their GHG reduction goals when updating their climate pledge to the United Nations at the end of 2020.  

More recently, Australia ranked last of all developed countries for reducing GHG’s and climate policy. The Australian government has previously been criticized for its climate inaction, with independents describing previous governmental action as “a complete and catastrophic failure to act on the climate crisis.” This has been substantiated by fourteen Torres Strait region inhabitants recently achieving landmark climate justice against the Australian government for climate inaction that violated “their right to family life and right to culture.” 

At the Forefront of Climate Change 

Australia’s average surface temperatures have risen by 1.1°C compared to pre-Industrial times (approximately pre-1850-1900). At 1.1°C, the ecological impact is huge, with extreme weather events causing “unprecedented, rapid, and potentially irreversible ecosystem impacts.” Heatwaves are more common, more severe, and last for longer. Cyclones are also becoming more severe, and more extreme rainfall and flooding events are expected. Australia is also experiencing record dryness—causing mass fish deaths—wind patterns, and high temperatures. Recently, its highest temperature on record was in January 2022 at 50.7°C.  

Further, tens of thousands of marine, coastal, forest, and woodland habitats for species have already been destroyed. Agricultural profitability has reduced by 22% since 2000, and wheat and barley yield potentials have dropped by up to 27%, further exacerbating the food insecurity crisis. 

Based on current projections, average temperatures in Australia will increase by 6°C by 2100. Even a 3°C rise “would render Australia’s ecological systems unrecognisable due to alterations in the distribution or loss of thousands of species.”  

Is the Tide Turning? 

Given Australia’s tumultuous past, the Climate Change Bill aims to promote a coherent response to climate change, to reduce GHG’s, and to improve accountability and transparency. For example, Australia has the potential to increase its renewable energy 500-fold (as the sunniest country and one of the windiest globally). However, there are some reservations for this new legislation. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has previously stated that GHG’s need to be reduced by 43% by 2030. However, given the disproportionate GHG emissions produced, Australia should arguably have a greater responsibility to combat the climate crisis. Therefore, while the Climate Change Bill is undoubtedly progress for a country historically entrenched by climate inaction and asserts intent to prioritise climate change, action must speak louder than words.