ClimateWorks Australia executive director Anna Skarbek said the 2050 Pathways Calculator could help inform analysis of Australia’s post-2020 emissions reduction targets in the lead up to this year’s international climate negotiations in Paris and beyond.
“This tool allows users to explore the range of possible pathways for decarbonising our economy, in line with what we now know is needed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius”, Ms Skarbek said.
“The calculator allows users to change the extent to which each emissions reduction opportunity is pursued and see the impact on demand for energy, on energy supply and on greenhouse gas emissions.”
Ms Skabek said the level of abatement could be changed from level one (business as usual) to level four (maximum reasonably feasible).
There’s even a warning signal triggered if the emissions jump over the carbon “budget”.
“Our analysis shows that Australia would exceed its carbon budget by 2029 without further action, but that there are a multitude of options to stay within the budget and reach zero net emissions by 2050,” Ms Skabek said.
See the 2050 Pathways Calculator
ClimateWorks Australian and Australian National University report Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in 2050: How Australia can prosper in a low carbon world.