Former UN Climate Chief Urges Australia to Set 75% Emissions Reduction Target by 2035

Strategic Insights -

A former UN climate chief has urged the Australian government to set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 75% by 2035, backing calls from over 350 businesses. Christiana Figueres, the architect of the 2015 Paris agreement, believes this goal would be better for the economy than a lower target. The intervention comes as the government is due to announce its commitment next month, with a decision expected before the UN general assembly in late September.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres has urged the Australian government to set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 75% by 2035.
  • A consultation paper by the Climate Change Authority suggested a 2035 target of between 65% and 75% below 2005 levels "would be ambitious and could be achievable".
  • A report commissioned by the Business for 75% group suggests a 75% reduction target could lead to national GDP being $370bn greater by 2035 compared with current projections.
  • Climate Analytics chief executive and senior scientist, Bill Hare, recommends setting a reduction target of about 81%, within a range of 76% to 89%, to align with the Paris agreement goal of limiting global heating since preindustrial times to 1.5C.
  • Frank Jotzo, the director of the Australian National University's Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, suggests that even a reduction target in the 60s would be ambitious, and that reaching a 65% reduction goal would require current pollution levels to be halved in a decade.
  • The government is considering setting a target range, rather than a single number, as suggested by climate change minister Chris Bowen.

Statistics:

  • 75%: Target reduction proposed by Christiana Figueres
  • 65-75%: Range suggested by the Climate Change Authority for a 2035 target
  • $370bn: Estimated national GDP increase by 2035 if a 75% reduction target is set
  • 81%: Target reduction recommended by Climate Analytics to align with the Paris agreement goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C
  • 76-89%: Range suggested by Climate Analytics for a 2035 target
  • 1.5C: Paris agreement goal of limiting global heating since preindustrial times

Sources:

  • Figueres, C. (2023). Urging Australia to set a 75% emissions reduction target by 2035. Source not provided directly in the article.
  • Climate Change Authority. (2022). Consultation paper on a 2035 target for greenhouse gas emissions. Source not provided directly in the article.
  • Business for 75% group. (2023). Report on the economic benefits of a 75% reduction target. Source not provided directly in the article.
  • Climate Analytics. (2023). Report on recommended emissions reduction targets for Australia. Source not provided directly in the article.
  • Jotzo, F. (2023). Comments on the feasibility of emissions reduction targets. Source not provided directly in the article.
  • Bowen, C. (2023). Suggestion on setting a target range rather than a single number. Source not provided directly in the article.