Australia has more ambitious climate targets than Aotearoa

RNZ, with a byline-less AP report:

Australia has pledged to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 62 to 70 percent from 2005 levels over the next decade, after warnings that homes and livelihoods are under threat.

"We listen to the science and we act in Australia's national interest," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as he unveiled the goal on Thursday.

Australia's goals are above those of Canada and neighbouring New Zealand, but below the United Kingdom which is one of the most ambitious in the world.

Australia vows to cut emissions by 62 to 70 percent by 2035

Under the Paris accord, each country must provide a headline figure to the United Nations for cutting heat-trapping emissions by 2035, and a detailed blueprint for how to achieve this.

RNZRNZ News

Targets don't necessarily mean action – far from it. But compare the ambition of the Australians with our own, as Bernard Hickey explained:

New Zealand’s new target of a gross emissions reduction of 51-55% from 2005 levels by the 2035 year was barely above the 50% target for 2030, leaving experts under-whelmed and raising questions about whether a moving of the goalposts to a single year target from a decade-long-budget could actually allow higher emissions between 2030 and 2035.

Not a surprise considering ACT wants us to pull out of the global agreement to stop global warming entirely. Such a climate hostile move would harm our trading relationships, our global standing, and our economy and livelihoods.

What RNZ doesn't mention though is the purely selfish economic benefit that comes from climate action in Australia. The Australian Prime Minister's office says:

The Treasury’s economic modelling: This modelling assesses the economic opportunities from the global net zero transformation for Australia and shows an orderly path to net zero supports more jobs and investment, higher wages and living standards, and a bigger economy. The Treasury modelled two orderly net zero scenarios consistent with our government’s approach and 2035 targets and a Disorderly Transition Scenario.

You read that right. Taking action on climate change is a far better way to grow the economy. No wonder the Australians are doing it. Cheap, clean energy that also prevents ever more biblical disasters sounds like a dream.

As the economy struggles to grow, an opportunity is waiting in the wings. Clean tech and revolutionary agricultural innovation could be exactly the smart climate and economic growth policy that we need to get out of this funk.

Australia is reaping the opportunity of a climate smart economy. We can too.