What is Australia doing to stop climate change?
This is a well-timed question, because Australia is doing more than ever before to mitigate, or slow, and eventually stop climate change. This year, at the Australian Federal election in May, Australians elected a clear majority of candidates who support more ambitious climate action – yay! So far, the new government has introduced the Climate Change Bill 2022 which is Australia’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% (below 2005 levels) by 2030, and achieve net zero by 2050. This is a good step in the right direction, but it could be more ambitious, with greater emissions reductions and higher renewable energy targets. To achieve the target it is critical that the government review the rules that define how much Australia’s largest greenhouse gas emitters can emit, known as The Safeguard Mechanism. The reform is underway and the government aims to release the new rules in July next year.
Key considerations for the review are the setting of limits for emissions, managing any disadvantages that businesses may face in the global market and ensuring that a reduction of emissions in Australia doesn’t lead to an increase overseas, and introducing a carbon credit system. Many members of parliament have criticised the proposal to include a carbon credit system, because previously carbon credit systems have failed to reduce emissions. So, the scheme is currently under review.
The new government has also recently made a commitment to increase protected areas in Australia from the current 22 percent to 30 percent by 2030. This has a dual aim to protect habitat for threatened species and contribute to emissions reduction. Every action that prevents carbon from entering the atmosphere will help to mitigate climate change.
A protected Tasmanian saltmarsh. Source: Australian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Conference.
In addition to electing a government that supports climate action, the people of Australia have also been doing lots of things to reduce the amount of carbon that enters the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. Where possible, people are consuming less, recycling more, eating more sustainable meats and more delicious vegetables, sometimes even growing some of their own food, replacing their cars with electric vehicles, driving and flying less, using sustainable transport, not supporting banks that invest in fossil fuel-based industries, supporting renewable energy initiatives and making buildings more energy efficient…overall, Australians are engaging in climate action.
Australians are coming together as a community to demand more ambitious climate action, greater emissions reductions and stronger accountability from our leaders. Many community groups, land managers and land management organisations are working with Traditional Owners and First Nations people to incorporate indigenous knowledge to restore and care for country. Researchers from a diverse range of fields are coming together to share knowledge in how we can more effectively mitigate climate change. Australians are connecting with natural environments and advocating for the protection of places that store carbon, like forests, saltmarshes and oceans. Climate action is gaining momentum!
