Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T06:07:14.465Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

9 - Decarbonisation Strategies and Economic Opportunities in Australia

from Example Economies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2021

Kenneth G. H. Baldwin
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Mark Howden
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Michael H. Smith
Affiliation:
Australian National University, Canberra
Karen Hussey
Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Peter J. Dawson
Affiliation:
P. J. Dawson & Associates
Get access

Summary

This chapter synthesises insights from the Deep Decarbonisation Pathways Project (DDPP), which provided detailed analysis of how 16 countries representing three-quarters of global emissions can transition to very low-carbon economies. The four ‘pillars’ of decarbonisation are identified as: achieving low or zero-carbon electricity supply; electrification and fuel switching in transport, industry and housing; ambitious energy efficiency improvements; and reducing non-energy emissions. The chapter focuses on decarbonisation scenarios for Australia. It shows that electricity supply can be readily decarbonised and greatly expanded to cater for electrification of transport, industry and buildings. There would be remaining emissions principally from industry and agriculture, these could be fully compensated through land-based carbon sequestration. The analysis shows that such decarbonisation would be consistent with continued growth in GDP and trade, and would require very little change in economic structure of Australia’s economy. Australia is rich in renewable energy potential, which could re-enable new industries such as energy-intensive manufacturing for export

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2014). 5206.0 – Australian national accounts: National income, expenditure and product, Mar 2014: Table 6. Gross value added by industry, chain volume measures. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Available at: www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/5206.0Mar%202014?OpenDocument.Google Scholar
Adams, P. D. and Parmenter, B. R. (2013). Computable general equilibrium modelling of environmental issues in Australia: Economic impacts of an emissions trading scheme. In Dixon, P. B. and Jorgenson, D., eds., Handbook of CGE Modelling, Vol. 1A. Oxford: North-Holland, pp. 553657.Google Scholar
Adams, P. D., Parmenter, B. R. and Verikios, G. (2014). An emissions trading scheme for Australia: National and regional impacts. Economic Record, 90, 316344.Google Scholar
Akbar, S., Kleiman, G., Menon, S. and Segafredo, L. (2014). Climate-Smart Development: Adding Up the Benefits of Actions That Help Build Prosperity, End Poverty and Combat Climate Change. Main report, Vol. 1. Working Paper 88908. Washington. DC: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank and ClimateWorks Foundation. Available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/794281468155721244/pdf/889080WP0v10RE0Smart0Development0Ma.pdf.Google Scholar
Allianz Australia (2014). Top fuel efficient cars. Allianz Car Insurance News. Available at: www.allianz.com.au/car-insurance/news/top-fuel-efficient-cars (site discontinued).Google Scholar
Amyris (2014). First international commercial flight completed with newly approved Amyris-Total aviation biofuel [press release]. Amyris.com. 31 July. Available at: https://investors.amyris.com/2014-07-31-First-International-Commercial-Flight-Completed-With-Newly-Approved-Amyris-Total-Aviation-Biofuel.Google Scholar
Australian Treasury (2011). Strong Growth, Low Pollution: Modelling a Carbon Price. Canberra: Commonwealth Government of Australia.Google Scholar
Bataille, C., Sawyer, D. and Melton, N. (2015). Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in Canada. Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30696.70401.Google Scholar
BNEF (Bloomberg New Energy Finance) (2000). Battery pack prices cited below $100/kWh for the first time in 2020, while market average sits at $137/kWh. BloombergNEF. 16 December. Available at: https://about.bnef.com/blog/battery-pack-prices-cited-below-100-kwh-for-the-first-time-in-2020-while-market-average-sits-at-137-kwh/.Google Scholar
BREE (Australian Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics) (2014). 2014 Australian Energy Update. Canberra: Commonwealth Government of Australia.Google Scholar
Bryan, B, Nolan, M, Harwood, T. et al. (2014). Supply of carbon sequestration and biodiversity services from Australia’s agricultural land under global change. Global Environmental Change, 28, 166181.Google Scholar
CCA (Climate Change Authority) (2014). Reducing Australia’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Targets and Progress Review: Final Report. Melbourne: Climate Change Authority. Available at: www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/reviews/targets-and-progress-review-3.Google Scholar
Cosgrove, D., Gargett, D., Evans, C., Graham, P. and Ritzinger, A. (2012). Greenhouse Gas Abatement Potential of the Australian Transport Sector. Technical report from the Australian Low Carbon Transport Forum. Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Available at: https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/pub?pid=csiro:EP117670.Google Scholar
CWA (ClimateWorks Australia) (2010). Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia. Melbourne: ClimateWorks Australia. Available at: www.climateworksaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/climateworks_lcgp_australia_full_report_mar2010-compressed.pdf.Google Scholar
CWA (2013). Tracking Progress Towards a Low Carbon Economy: Overview. Melbourne: ClimateWorks Australia. Available at: www.climateworksaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/climateworks_trackingprogress_overview_july2013.pdf.Google Scholar
CWA (2018). Tracking Progress to Net Zero Emissions. Melbourne: ClimateWorks Australia. Available at: www.climateworksaustralia.org/resource/tracking-progress-to-net-zero-emissions/.Google Scholar
CWA, ANU (Australian National University), CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and CoPS (Centre for Policy Studies) (2014). Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in 2050: How Australia Can Prosper in a Low Carbon World. Technical report. Melbourne: ClimateWorks Australia. Available at: www.climateworksaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/climateworks_pdd2050_technicalreport_20140923-1.pdf.Google Scholar
DDPP (Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project) (2015). Pathways to Deep Decarbonization 2015 Report. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). Available at: www.iddri.org/en/publications-and-events/report/pathways-deep-decarbonization-2015-synthesis-report. Google Scholar
Denis, A., Jotzo, F., Ferraro, , S. et al. (2014). Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in 2050: How Australia Can Prosper in a Low Carbon World. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). Available at: www.iddri.org/sites/default/files/old/Publications/AU_DDPP_report.pdf.Google Scholar
DOE (Australian Department of the Environment) (2014). National greenhouse gas inventory: Kyoto Protocol classifications. Australian Greenhouse Emissions Information System. Available at: http://ageis.climatechange.gov.au/NGGI.aspx.Google Scholar
Eady, S., Grundy, M., Battaglia, M. and Keating, B. (2009). An Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration Opportunities from Rural Land Use. St Lucia, Queensland: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Available at: https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/pub?pid=changeme:822.Google Scholar
Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y. et al. (2014). Technical summary. In Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y. et al., eds., Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 33107. Available at: www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_technical-summary.pdf.Google Scholar
Fleurbaey, M., Kartha, S., Bolwig, S. et al. (2014). Sustainable development and equity. In Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y. et al., eds., Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 283350. Available at: www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_chapter4.pdf.Google Scholar
Garnaut, R. (2008). The Garnaut Climate Change Review: Final Report. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Global Commission on the Economy and Climate (2014). Better Growth, Better Climate: The New Climate Economy Report. Synthesis Report. Washington, DC: The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. Available at: https://newclimateeconomy.report/2016/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/08/BetterGrowth-BetterClimate_NCE_Synthesis-Report_web.pdf.Google Scholar
Herrero, M., Havlík, P., Valin, H. et al. (2013) Biomass use, production, feed efficiencies, and greenhouse gas emissions from global livestock systems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110, 2088820893.Google Scholar
IEA (International Energy Agency) (2012). CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion. International Energy Agency. Paris: OECD Publishing. Available at: www.oecd-ilibrary.org/energy/co2-emissions-from-fuel-combustion-2012_co2_fuel-2012-en.Google Scholar
IEA (2013). World Energy Outlook 2013. Paris: IEA. Available at: www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2013.Google Scholar
IEA–PVPS (IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme) (2013). Trends 2013 in Photovoltaic Applications: Survey Report of Selected IEA Countries Between 1992 and 2012. Report No. IEA-PVPS T1–23:2013. Paris: IEA.Google Scholar
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2014a). Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Edited by Field, C. B., Barros, V. R., Mach, K. J. et al. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WGIIAR5-PartA_FINAL.pdf.Google Scholar
IPCC (2014b). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Edited by Edenhofer, O., Pichs-Madruga, R., Sokona, Y. et al. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at: www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg3/.Google Scholar
JRC (Joint Research Centre) and PBL (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency) (2013). Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR). Release Version 4.2 FT2010 [database]. European Commission. Available at: https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/archived_datasets.php.Google Scholar
Reedman, L. and Graham, P. (2011). Road Transport Sector Modelling: Supplementary Report on Clean Energy Future and Government Policy Scenarios. A report for the Department of Treasury. Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Available at: https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/c2011-sglp-supplementary-CSIRO_Supp.pdf.Google Scholar
SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network) and IDDRI (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations) (2014). Pathways to Deep Decarbonization: 2014 Report. Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Available at: www.globalccsinstitute.com/archive/hub/publications/184548/pathways-deep-decarbonization-2014-report.pdf.Google Scholar
Trancik, J. (2014). Renewable energy: Back the renewables boom. Nature News & Comment. 19 March. Available at: www.nature.com/news/renewable-energy-back-the-renewables-boom-1.14873.Google Scholar
UN DESA (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division) (2013). World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. Volume I: Comprehensive Tables. New York: United Nations.Google Scholar
UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) (n.d.). Information provided by Parties to the Convention relating to the Copenhagen Accord. United Nations Climate Change. Available at: https://unfccc.int/process/conferences/pastconferences/copenhagen-climate-change-conference-december-2009/statements-and-resources/information-provided-by-parties-to-the-convention-relating-to-the-copenhagen-accord.Google Scholar
Williams, J. H., Haley, B., Kahrl, F. et al. (2014). Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States. Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Available at: https://usddpp.org/downloads/2014-technical-report.pdf.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×