The first major report from The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program evaluates the energy policies required to meet Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by the Abbott government and pledged at the international climate summit in Paris.

The Climate & Energy Program was launched following the transfer of the Climate Institute’s intellectual property to The Australia Institute.

The analysis of the government-commissioned modelling finds that, to meet its Paris commitment, Australia faces a choice:

1. adopt a least-cost path, involving a transition to between 66-75% renewable energy by 2030; or
2. further delay the transformation of the electricity sector, which will increase the cost to the economy as a whole and push a greater proportion of the emission reduction task onto other sectors, such as agriculture, transport and manufacturing.

The report, by Director of Research at The Australia Institute, Rod Campbell, shows the most efficient path to meeting Australia’s international commitment would see the electricity sector reducing emissions by between 40%-55% below 2005 levels in 2030.