Overview

• Australia has set a 2035 emissions reduction target of 62% to 70% from 2005 levels, adopting the Climate Change Authority’s advice.
• Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said the government will not adopt the Authority’s modelled markers such as 90% renewables, a quadrupling of wind and a doubling of rooftop solar.
• Bowen reaffirmed the existing objective of 82% renewable electricity by 2030 and declined to set an electric-vehicle sales target projected by the Authority to require a 20-fold increase.
• The Australian Energy Market Operator has indicated the grid would likely need roughly 90% renewables by 2035 to stay on track for net-zero by 2050.
• Environment Minister Murray Watt said the government has approved its 100th renewables project, as business and environmental groups call for clearer implementation and Nationals MPs attack the plan’s economic impact.