Australia has set a legislated target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and every state and territory in Australia has a target of net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. 

The Liberal-National Coalition is meeting to discuss its climate change policy, with abandoning Australia’s foundational climate change target – net zero climate pollution by 2050 – reportedly on the cards. This briefing investigates the consequences for Australia and the world were Australia to take this course of action.

Key findings

1. Abandoning net zero and Australia’s other climate targets could increase Australia’s climate pollution by 6.3 billion tonnes more over the next 25 years compared to current targets.
2. Abandoning net zero is aligned with global temperature rise well above 3°C. Australia would face a future of relentless disasters and economic upheaval.
3. Reneging on its climate commitments would damage Australia’s global standing and strain ties with Pacific nations that expect us to do more - not less - on climate change.
4. Abandoning net zero would be an enormous risk to realising the broad benefits of the global clean energy transition, deterring investment in renewables and green exports.