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Falling behind - but confident Australia can get on track.
“While I am pleased with our progress, I am not yet satisfied. The job is far from done.”
That's Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen delivering the government's annual climate change statement.
Mr Bowen optimistic about that progress.
“This is a shared endeavour: we must work together to do what’s both possible and practical to stop dangerous climate change and realise the economic opportunities of net zero. The end result will be plans that are robust, ambitious but achievable and accepted by the broader community”
The full scale of the challenge is evident in the government's projections.
The Climate Change Authority's annual progress report shows Australia is not yet on track to meet its 2030 targets, with emissions rising slightly in the 12 months to June this year.
We're behind in the key target of a 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030, projected to reach 42 per cent.
The Opposition - yet to come up with its own emissions reduction policy, has been taking aim.
Ted O'Brien is the opposition's spokesman on climate change and energy.
“He is false prophet who is big on future visions but not on tangible outcomes”
Ahead of the statement, Labor massively expanded the Capacity Investment Scheme to underwrite clean energy projects last week.
Its goal of 82 per cent renewable energy by the end of the decade will be necessary to reach its overall emissions reduction target.
Greens leader Adam Bandt.
“In a climate crisis emissions are rising under Labor and Labor is backing more coal and gas.”
Chris Bowen warns not just of the existential threat global warming poses in the Pacific but also of the growing national security risk.
“Extreme weather events caused by climate change place increased strain on Australia’s energy networks and this fragility could be used by hostile actors.”
It's a situation that climate experts - like Cheryl Durrant from the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group say requires more action.
“A climate disaster can have flow on effects into food security, into the energy grid into global supply chains, political instability so it's really good to see that cascading risk connection come through. Although he spoke about climate emergency we're not seeing the actions being taken.”
