McKinsey estimates more than 100,000 direct jobs could be created in export and domestic sectors if there is a rapid and lasting uptake of “advanced technologies” that help reduce Australia’s overall emissions.
The report makes explicit it did not examine the financial costs to Australia from climate change.
The government has so far promised at least $21 billion towards supporting new industries and businesses to reach the net zero target. But the modelling confirms this will still fall well short of the stated aim,reaching 85 per cent.
The rest has to be made up by technological breakthroughs that are yet to be created.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the modelling backed the government’s plan.
“The modelling shows that a clear focus on driving down technology costs will enable Australia to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 without putting industries,regions or jobs at risk,” he said.
“We’ve set out a credible pathway to net zero by 2050 while preserving our existing industries,establishing Australia as a leader in low emissions technologies and positioning our regions to prosper.”
The report makes clear the importance of international carbon offset permits to reach an 85 per cent reduction in Australia’s emissions.
After all the expected reductions from technological advances,Australia is still expected to be producing 215 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year by 2050. International permits are assumed to reduce this by another 94 million tonnes.
About 300,000 hectares of land will be required for farm plantings to further reduce emissions.
The modelling shows that trying to cut emissions without sequestering carbon in land or using international offset permits will be extremely expensive. It estimates the cost per tonne could reach $400,which would be 16 times more than the cost assumed by McKinsey across its report.
Such expensive abatement would support “backstop” technology,such as direct air capture,which entails the removal of greenhouse gases from the air.
Mr Morrison this week released the Coalition’s new electric vehicles policy,promising $178 million into areas including public EV charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
The modelling expects 90 per cent of the national car fleet to be zero emission vehicles by 2050. But most of that uptake occurs after 2030.
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Labor’s climate change spokesman Chris Bowen said the fact the report was released on a Friday afternoon did not bode well for the research.
“It took the Coalition almost a decade to release a ‘scamphlet’ on net zero,and weeks more to release the detail,” he said.
“Labor will take the necessary time to consider this detail,as a responsible alternative government should.”
Greens leader Adam Bandt said the government’s ambition was so low,the plan failed to reach net zero.
“This is a piece of fiction trying to cover up inaction,” he said.