More from Climate Change Authority chief Matt Kean yesterday

In his speech at the Australian Museum, Matt Kean also briefly referred to the Climate Change Authority’s work advising the Albanese government on a 2035 emissions reduction target.

The advice was delayed before last month’s federal election. The advice and a government announcement is now expected by September, before the Cop30 summit in Brazil in November.

Kean said he wanted a target that was “ambitious, informed by the science, but also achievable”. He has previously said the authority was consulting with stakeholders on a target range – a 65% to 75% cut below 2005 levels.

He said part of the authority’s work was to understand what Donald Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Biden administration’s decarbonisation funding would mean for Australia – whether it would hamper or help a rapid shift to cleaner practice.

Some political or business leaders have suggested if a target appears beyond reach, we should throw in the towel.

In fact, there are many ways we can do more, mostly by going with the electron flow. The pace of electrification will determine whether we succeed.

He said giving households more help to take up solar and batteries was “not only good politics. It could pick up some of the slack if the larger grid overhaul takes longer than expected”.

The Guardian