Australia's power supply: brown and polluting
Together with the Australian Conservation Foundation, we have been analysing Australia’s emissions profile and policies. This factsheet focuses on Australia’s electricity sector and outlines how it compares with other countries.
Date Published
2019, May
Other factsheets in the series:
Australia’s pollution profile and how to turn it around
Australia has one of the most polluting power grids in the world with 62 per cent of electricity generation coming from burning coal.
Current policies will only drive a further 9 per cent decrease in emissions from electricity generation to 2030.
Of the countries studied, Australia stands out as having no 2030 or 2050 renewable energy target, no decarbonisation strategy for electricity and no coal phase-out plan.