CCA recommendations charts the right way forward towards net zero

Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) welcomes the Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) Sector Pathways Review, which is a thorough assessment of the opportunities and policies needed for Australia to transition to net zero emissions. 

BZE CEO Heidi Lee said, “The CCA’s advice to the Federal Government underscores the importance of place-based strategies, crucial for regions like Gladstone, Hunter Valley, and Kwinana, where energy-intensive industries anchor the economy. The sectoral plans provide a pathway for decarbonising heavy industries, with clear parameters on the policies and investment needed to rapidly reduce emissions and power clean manufacturing.”

“Many important recommendations from our research and government submissions are reflected in CCA’s report, which includes insights from our Export Powerhouse, National Supergrid, Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts and cleantech supply chains work. These include strengthening the Capacity Investment Scheme via legislation and expanded funding, stronger regulations in the built environment sector and the need to establish essential energy generation and infrastructure to future-proof our national grid.”

“We strongly support the CCA’s focus on reducing emissions now using existing technologies, in 2023 our Deploy report demonstrated an 81% emissions reduction by 2030 using this approach. Scaling up deployment of the clean technologies already available today will enable us to achieve rapid emissions reductions this decade,” Ms Lee added.

Although the CCA acknowledges supply chain constraints as a major barrier to the energy transition, it stops short of recommending local content requirements. BZE’s Make it Here report highlights Australia’s potential to capture 30-40% of cleantech supply chains locally, creating thousands of jobs and generating billions in revenue. BZE has consistently called for local content mandates in government procurement to drive domestic cleantech manufacturing.

This approach would also lock in long-term economic prosperity for Australia as global competition for clean technologies heats up. By coordinating labour, materials, investment, and policy at a national level, Australia can overcome its smaller market size and limited purchasing power to access critical clean technologies. This is essential to cutting domestic emissions and producing key green exports like alumina, aluminium, and steel.

CCA’s full report can be accessed here.