Australian vehicle emissions are even worse than official figures show and are likely to fall even further behind the rest of the world unless much more ambitious policies are adopted.
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
SUVs now outsell standard cars three to one, as you can see on these graphs. Australian car park spots may soon have to be made 20cm longer, just to fit them all in.
A new study estimates a reduction in emissions of only 35-45% of pre-COVID levels by 2050. Lighter vehicles and faster uptake of electric vehicles can dramatically improve progress towards net zero.
Soaring electric vehicle production is giving new life to old manufacturing plants that were all but written off in the United States. Australia is also in a position to revive its carmaking industry.
A steadily-tightening emissions car ceiling of the kind common in other countries could save drivers money and do the bulk of the work needed to reach Australia’s first emissions target.