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Urgent action needed for Net Zero economy by 2050

12 June 2024

SEI have sent a submission in response to the 2024 Issues paper: Targets, Pathways and Progress, led by Dr Lee White.

The submission highlights the urgent need for ambitious and robust policy action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and simultaneously a need to prepare for the continued consequences of the emissions that have already raised global average temperatures.

Climate change, driven by rising average temperatures, has led to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. This situation underscores the necessity for immediate and decisive action.

“Our team at SEI are expert researchers in areas including climate finance, best practice community engagement, equity impacts of policy action, climate change adaptation, and impacts of scaling up critical mineral extraction,” Dr White said.

“The submission was an opportunity to ensure the latest evidence in these areas could be incorporated into far-reaching decisions about Australia’s path to net zero.”

The submission emphasises that Australia must establish ambitious climate change mitigation targets. These targets should align with the Paris Agreement responsibilities for developing countries and provide clear investment signals to industries. Such measures are essential for directing industry efforts towards sustainable practices and technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“With the impacts of climate change already being felt such as through increased severity and frequency of extreme weather, taking insufficient action to mitigate further climate change carries substantial risks,” Dr White said.

The urgency of the climate crisis necessitates immediate and concerted efforts from all sectors of society. The submission concludes that Australia’s pathway to a net zero economy by 2050 must be paved with ambitious targets, supported by public funding, and guided by robust regulatory frameworks. Engaging communities in this transition will not only ensure social equity but also enhance the effectiveness of climate action.

Experts remain committed to supporting the development and implementation of policies that will enable a successful transition to a net zero economy by 2050, contributing to a sustainable and resilient future for Australia.

Read the submission here (Submission in response to 2024 Issues paper Targets, Pathways and Progress, pdf, 1.16MB)

Submission authors

Dr Lee White, Horizon Fellow, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Co-Lead of the Transformative Governance Research Theme, Sydney Environment Institute
Dr Gareth Bryant, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow and Chair of Discipline for Political Economy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Associate Professor Amanda Tattersall, Associate Professor of Practice, Faculty of Science
Dr Rebecca Cross, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Faculty of Science
Dr Lian Sinclair, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Science
Dr Sophie Webber, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Geography, Faculty of Science
Dr Claire Parfitt, Lecturer in Political Economy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dr Justin See, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Science and Sydney Environment Institute
Ms Kirsten Jackson, Program Manager, Sydney Environment Institute