Mark Vender
The Climate Change Authority has released its review of the potential technology transition and emissions pathways for the Australian government to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The review considers the pathways for six sectors to decarbonise, including for the first time the built environment. The main barriers are identified, along with strategies and actions to address them.
Requested by the Australian parliament, the review will inform the Australian government’s Net Zero Plan, which will lay out and extend Australia’s action on climate change.
“The authority has charted a course for how Australia can decarbonise by 2050,” says Matt Kean, chair of the authority.
“Good progress is being made on decarbonising the energy sector and rolling out firmed renewables. But to achieve a rapid and orderly transition to net zero, all sectors of the economy, along with all levels of government, must plan and act together.”
According to the review, the built environment has a clear and potentially rapid pathway to decarbonisation, with many technologies already commercially available.
The review notes there are significant decarbonisation opportunities in electrification and energy efficiency. It also indicates the need to adopt refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP), while also taking into account other environmental impacts such as PFAS, as well as better end-of-life management of refrigerant gases and an increased focus on routine maintenance of HVAC&R equipment.
“By overcoming the barriers to reducing emissions we can make the Australian economy more prosperous while creating new industries and jobs, improving our energy security, protecting the environment, and reducing the cost of living,” says Kean.
The Sector Pathways Review is available at the Climate Change Authority website.
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