‘Not even close’: Leading scientist’s scathing review of Australia’s net zero progress

A leading scientist has revealed why Australia is so far behind its net zero targets and the answer will dominate the next federal election.

EXCLUSIVE

Australia is a long way away from its renewables targets and would require “all technologies” to meet its net zero promise, a leading scientist has declared at an inquiry into the future of nuclear power in the country.

Dr Chris Greig, a senior research scientist at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, told the parliamentary inquiry that Australia was “well short” of the rate of renewables required to meet its net zero targets.

“No, not even close,” he told Liberal MP Simon Kennedy when asked if the nation was on track to hit net zero by 2050.

“We are probably pushing up against five gigawatts a year … we would need to be hitting maybe five times that.

Australia has committed to net zero by 2050.

“We are well short of that.”

Dr Grieg also revealed that “all technologies” would be needed to tackle the climate crisis — evidence the Coalition is using to undermine the government’s decision to disregard nuclear power.

Dr Chris Greig spoke about Australia’s net-zero targets. Picture: Blair Jackson

The Coalition has vowed to bring nuclear power to Australia through small nuclear reactors spread across the country if the win the next election due in May — a move the Albanese government opposes.

“I just think we’re underestimating what tackling the climate challenge is, it’s going to take all hands on deck,” Dr Grieg said.

Liberal MP Simon Kennedy. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

“It’s going to take all technologies and it’s going to take a lot stronger to be leaned on by both the government and private sector.”

Mr Kennedy said the evidence showed that nuclear power must be a part of Australia’s energy future.

“The clear implication from Dr Greig’s evidence today was that given the scale of the net zero challenge, nuclear has to play a part in our energy mix,” he said.

“Without it there is no way we will meet our net zero targets.

“Labor’s strategy is simply a plan for higher prices and rolling blackouts.”

The scathing assessment is a blow to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government’s climate targets. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Coalition needs to reveal how much their plan will cost if they are proposing nuclear power for Australia.

“If the Coalition are so sure nuclear will be cheap to build and run in Australia, then tell us how much they think it will cost, instead of relying on hypothetical scenarios from other countries,” he said.

“But they wont, because they know the answer is not going to be good.”

Originally published as ‘Not even close’: Leading scientist’s scathing review of Australia’s net zero progress