The Climate Change Authority’s third Annual Progress Report finds Australia’s emissions are falling, but not yet at the rate needed to meet the 2030 target of 43% below 2005 levels. 

New policies have improved Australia’s prospects of cutting emissions in line with the national 2030 target. However, deployment of renewable electricity must accelerate and emissions need to fall faster.

The report covers Australia's progress, decarbonising electrictiy and performance of the Safeguard Mechnism; and makes 10 recommendations to accelerate cuts to emissions this decade. 

Included is a summary for policymakers and data pack. 

Recommendations

1. Strengthen, broaden, lengthen and embed the Capacity Investment Scheme.
2. Enable the rapid and large-scale deployment of combined synchronous condenser functionality with back-up generation capability, to provide the system security and reliability services needed for the accelerated deployment of renewables and timely coal power station closures.
3. Speed up connection approval processes for large-scale generators in the National Electricity Market (NEM), while enhancing the transparency of those processes.
4. Make full use of the potential contribution of electricity distribution networks, and commercial and industrial customers’ premises, to host renewable electricity generation and storage.
5. Endorse the provision of further advice on recommendations 1-4.
6. Through the National Cabinet, task relevant ministers to work together to overcome barriers to the energy transition.
7. The Minister appoint an Energy Transition Coordinator to drive and monitor the delivery of economically efficient, reliable and low emissions electricity grids.
8. Uplift national building energy efficiency and drive the acceleration of building retrofits through improved information, regulated standards and further national policy support.
9. Require Safeguard facilities to report rolling 5-year compliance strategies.
10. Legislate and resource the Climate Change Authority to implement the monitoring and evaluation framework for the National Adaptation Plan.