The Australian Energy Council (AEC) has welcomed the Australian Government’s plan to revise the Net Zero 2050 Plan and develop sectoral paths to reduce emissions.
According to AEC Chief Executive Sarah McNamara, the AEC heartily supports the Federal Government’s goal to net zero emissions by 2050, as well as the need for contributions from all sectors of the economy.
“Achieving a 43 per cent emission reduction target by 2030 will necessitate sectors in addition to electricity to begin to decarbonise. This will require the exploitation of all decarbonising opportunities and technologies. We know that as emissions get closer to net zero, abatement will only become more challenging and more costly, so updating Australia’s Net Zero 2050 Plan now is timely,” McNamara said.
McNamara noted that determining sectoral paths for the economy’s key emitters is vital in achieving Net Zero by 2050. She stated that the Australian energy industry continues to lead the country’s decarbonisation efforts, reducing emissions by 26.9% since its peak in 2009.
“Most of the decline in emissions to 2030 is already projected to come from the electricity sector, when its emissions are expected to be 60 per cent lower than the 2005 baseline,” she said.
McNamara added, “The electricity sector looks forward to supporting the Government and other industries to develop effective and efficient approaches that will enable net zero goals to be achieved at least cost.”
