UN climate chief warns Australia faces ‘mega droughts’ without climate action

As the Coalition tears itself apart over net zero, Australia has been warned that is not going hard enough on climate change.

Australia faces “mega droughts” that will make “fresh fruit and veg a once-a-year treat” if it does not rapidly ramp up efforts to take the country’s grid green, the UN’s climate chief has warned ahead of talks in Canberra.

Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN’s main climate body, will on Tuesday meet with Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, with Australia’s bid to host COP31 next year among the key discussion points.

Hosting the climate conference would mark a significant turnaround for Australia, reflective of the Albanese government’s efforts to position the country as a regional leader in the renewables transition.

Australia’s net zero by 2050 target was central to the Albanese government’s youth-focused re-election pitch, with Labor vowing to power on with its renewables agenda.

Part of that agenda is the 2035 emissions reduction targets due this year.

Speaking at an event on Monday, Mr Stiell urged the Albanese government not to “settle for what’s easy” when setting Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction targets, warning that doing so would plunge Australia’s living standards.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell says Australia faces ‘mega droughts’ that will make ‘fresh fruit and veg a once-a-year treat’. Picture: David Gray / AFP

“Mega droughts (will make) fresh fruit and veg a once-a-year treat. In total, the country could face a $6.8 trillion GDP loss by 2050,” Mr Stiell told the Smart Energy Council event.

“Australia has a strong economy and among the highest living standards in the world.

“If you want to keep them, doubling down on clean energy is an economic no-brainer.

“Bog standard is beneath you. The question is: How far are you willing to go?

“The answer is due in September when Australia’s next national climate plan is due.”

The warning comes as the Coalition weathers a backbench rebellion to repeal the national carbon neutral target.

Sussan Ley has committed to a blanket review of all Coalition policies, including net zero, following its decimation at the federal election.

But a handful of mostly Nationals backbenchers led by Barnaby Joyce are calling for the emissions target to be abandoned completely, undermining the Opposition Leader’s already tenuous authority.

The Albanese government has been warned Australia faces ‘mega droughts’ without ambitious climate goals. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

Fronting media on Tuesday, senior Liberal MP Tim Wilson somewhat dodged when asked about Mr Stiell’s comments overnight.

“Our focus is on making sure that we develop a policy long term to build out the energy security Australia needs,” Mr Wilson told reporters.

“There’s a simple reality. Since Labor legislated net zero, they sold us a promise which was that we would see a reduction in prices, we would see a reduction of emissions and of course we’d have reliability on our electricity grid.

“In reality, it has been the reverse.”

He said Australians “have seen a rise in prices, a rise in emissions and less reliability for our energy sources”.

“So what we need now is honest conversations about the way forward and making sure we have our policy priorities in the right order,” Mr Wilson said.

“That’s to make sure that we have reliability, affordability and emissions reduction so that we can take the Australian community with us.”