Australia’s climate rating slips because of plans to increase coal and gas production
Australia’s plans to open new gas fields and approve three massive coal mine expansions has seen the country slip two places in this year’s global Climate Change Performance Index.
The index assesses the progress made by the world’s largest emitters in terms of emissions, renewables, energy use, and climate policy.
The 63 countries plus the European Union assessed in the CCPI are responsible for 90% of global emissions and are ranked based on their combined score across the three metrics.
Once again, no country has performed well enough in all three categories to achieve an overall “very high” rating.
Australia, despite boasting an economy ranking amongst the world’s top 20 and a seat at the G20 table, was ranked at 52, among the most low-performing countries.
The highest rating Australia can boast of is a “medium” for its greenhouse gas emissions, with both renewable energy and climate policy receiving a “low” rating and energy use receiving a “very low” rating.
The CCPI welcomed Australia’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030, net zero by 2050, and acknowledged that the country is edging towards being “on track” to meet its near-term targets.
Additionally, since the election of the current government in mid-2022, fossil fuel subsidies have declined and been redirected towards other industries.
Nevertheless, Australia is in fact one of the 10 countries with the largest developed coal and gas reserves and has recently begun to increase production.
Specifically, the current government’s Future Gas Strategy envisions opening massive new gas fields and continuing to burn and export natural gas well beyond 2050.
Similarly, in late September, the current government approved three massive coal mine expansions in NSW that are expected to operate as far into the future as 2066.