The Government is way off the mark and off-message when it comes to meeting the Paris target, new analysis from The Australia Institute shows. The new report debunks the government’s claims that Australia will meet the Paris target ‘in a canter’, demonstrating total emissions have been increasing since 2014 and without major policy measures or

New Australia Institute research shows that extremely hot days (over 35 degrees) could triple in Gladstone by 2070. The number of extreme heat days in Gladstone has already increased from 2.6 days per year in the 1960s to 6.5 days per year this century. This increase has now exceeded extreme heat projections for the year

The number of days over 35 degrees has nearly doubled in Rockhampton over recent years, and is forecast to triple again in the absence of strong policy response to climate change, according to new research from The Australia Institute. The Australia Institute’s Heat Watch initiative shows Rockhampton is expected to endure 29 days over 35

The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to poll the federal seat of Hume (690 respondents) on the evening of 10 September. Key Findings: Liberal primary vote crashes to 39.7% (down from 53.83 at 2016 federal election) 47.8% think the National Energy Guarantee should include an emissions reduction target (39.3% No) 63.7% support a moratorium on building

by Richard Denniss [This article originally appeared in the Australian Financial Review 18.09.18] As the Wentworth byelection will show, the desire of Coalition MPs to micro-target their “base” is a terrible way to develop national policy or win federal elections. Take energy policy: should the Coalition compete with Pauline Hanson for the climate sceptic vote in

Over 50 scientists and experts, including former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Carmen Lawrence, former Premier of WA, Professor Peter Newman AO, WA’s 2018 Scientist of the Year, and Ian Dunlop, former Chairman of the Australian Coal Association and Shell executive, are urging the Western Australian Government to permanently ban fracking in

PDF of Open Letter can be downloaded in full here. Full text of open letter and list of signatories below. Dear Premier and Ministers of the Government of Western Australia — Unconventional oil and gas development in Western Australia should not go ahead under any circumstances. The consequences of global warming are already extremely serious;

The Australia Institute’s Climate and Energy Program has released the latest National Energy Emissions Audit electricity update (The Audit*) for September 2018. The Audit shows the new surge of renewable generation coming online are the only thing currently helping reduce energy prices – with renewables now making up a record breaking 19.7% of the National

The number of Australians concerned about climate change has reached a five-year high, increasing to 73% (up from 66% in 2017) according to a new benchmark report released today. The annual Climate of the Nation report has tracked Australian attitudes on climate change for over a decade. This is the first Climate of the Nation

Research by The Australia Institute examines the fundamental conflict of interest that underlies the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Alliance (GISERA), making it an inappropriate organisation to undertake research to evaluate the social and environmental impacts of unconventional gas development.  Key points include: GISERA is an alliance between the five largest unconventional gas companies operating

by Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute. [This article originally appeared in the Canberra Times 08.09.18] Watching Brazil’s National Museum burn this week was a tragic reminder that, if we don’t take care, we can snap the threads that bind us to our history forever. Over a matter of hours, tens of millions

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has today received a rule change request to reform the National Electricity Market (NEM) to open it up to competition from demand response. This would make it easy for households and small businesses to receive payment for reducing their energy usage during periods of peak demand, helping to balance

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s unprecedented $443.3 million dollar Government grant is being invested with banks that fund the expansion of the fossil fuel industry, contrary to the Foundation’s stated goals. A new report released today from The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy program and Future Super shows the Foundation’s grant, which was paid upfront

The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to poll the federal seat of Wentworth (886 respondents) on the evening of 27th August.  Key Findings: Liberal Party primary vote crashes to 39.6%, compared to 2016 election 62.3% primary vote (-22.7%) Liberal primary vote lower still (34.6%) when potential independent candidates named Majority of voters (62.5%) think Australia should move

by Ben Oquist, Executive Director of The Australia Institute. [This article originally appeared in the Australian Financial Review 28.08.18] Scott Morrison is set to make the same mistake as the Business Council of Australia on energy and climate policy. Equating emission reductions with higher prices gets the politics and economics wrong. Australia’s climate and energy debates

The Australia Institute has released new analysis by Chief Economist Dr. Richard Denniss showing that the purported $150 price reduction likely to flow from the NEG will be rendered meaningless if the government proceeds with new policies to adjust future electricity supply via the so-called ‘NEG plus’. “The NEG modelling concludes power prices will be

The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program has released the latest National Energy Emissions Audit electricity update (The Audit*) for July 2018. The Audit shows that current NEG modelling will effectively create an investment cliff for the otherwise booming renewables sector, with no investment in further renewable energy generation after 2021. Key findings show: Renewables

The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released a special update of their National Energy Emissions Audit, assessing the value and effectiveness of the current NEG using figures from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). The Audit update shows multiple scenarios in which much larger emission reductions and levels of renewable energy generation can

The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to poll the federal seats of Mayo (766 respondents) on the evening of Wednesday 25 July. Key Findings: 59/41 two-party preferred, favouring Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie 64% of Australians support bringing genuine refugees to Australia who arrive by boat, only a quarter support indefinite detention on Nauru and Manus

New analysis from the Australia Institute shows that requiring Australia’s agricultural sector to reduce emissions by at least 26 per cent by 2030 would impose significant costs and reduced production for the industry. The federal government’s proposed NEG plans to lock in a 26 per cent reduction in the electricity sector, implying an intention to

New polling shows Tony Abbott, Federal Member for Warringah, is out of touch with his electorate on issues of coal, renewable energy and climate change – and his electorate know it. The Australia Institute commissioned a ReachTEL poll of 615 people in the electorate of Warringah, which was conducted on 11 July 2018. Key results:

The best way to protect coal jobs in existing mines is to stop the construction of new, highly automated coal mines in the Galilee Basin according to new research by The Australia Institute. The Institute’s report estimates that development of the Galilee Basin would reduce coal mining jobs by 9,000 in the Hunter Valley (NSW),

By Richie Merzian, Director of The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program.  [Read article in the New Matilda Here] Private and public investment in a safe climate future is growing, despite the best and worst efforts of some of the world’s leading polluters, writes Richie Merzian. On a reclaimed swamp fringing the outskirts of the industrial

New analysis from the Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy program shows that rooftop solar delayed and reduced peak demand in the National Electricity Market (NEM) this summer. This improved the reliability of the grid, covering for coal-fired power plants during breakdowns. When demand was highest this summer rooftop solar reduced peak demand by over 2000

By Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute. [View this article in the Australian Financial Review] Having abandoned the principles of small government, the right of Australian politics are now urging Australia to embrace Donald Trump’s attack on international agreements. Is there any institution these so-called “conservatives” aren’t willing to wreck in pursuit of

The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released the latest National Energy Emissions Audit electricity update (The Audit*) for July 2018.  The Audit shows current policies will reduce National Electricity Market (NEM) emissions to 22% below 2005 levels in 2019-20, effectively meaning electricity sector has an emissions reduction target of only 4% to 2030.  Key findings

By Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute [Read in the Sydney Morning Herald here] Economic rationalism and neoliberalism are dead in Australia. In an unexpected twist, the idea that markets are good and governments are bad was killed by the right wing of Australian politics, who simply couldn’t resist the desire to shovel

The Australia Institute welcomes the establishment of a Senate Select Committee on Electric Vehicles, and congratulates Senator Tim Storer for taking the initiative to bring this to the consideration of the Senate, and on his role as Chair of the committee. “There is a race to transition the world’s massive car fleet to electric vehicles and Australia is