Australia must phase out coal and petrol cars to meet climate goals, report finds

A report by research institute Climate Analytics, titled ‘A Fossil-Free Australia’, outlines a pathway for the nation to meet its climate commitments and keep global warming close to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To achieve these goals, the study suggests that all coal-fired power stations must close by 2034 and new petrol and diesel car sales must end by 2035. The report also recommends halving oil demand by 2035 and reducing domestic gas demand by 90 per cent by 2040.

Furthermore, renewable energy generation would need to reach 87 per cent nationwide by 2030, increasing to 96 per cent by 2035 and 100 per cent by 2050. The findings indicate that immediate action to phase out fossil fuels and accelerate renewable energy projects could slash residual 2050 emissions by 71 per cent.