Australia needs to reduce emissions to net zero by 2038 to do ‘fair share’ to contain global heating, analysis shows

Protestors hold placards on World Environment Day in Sydney on 5 June. In a report commissioned by WWF-Australia, two leading scientists have pointed out how far Australia has to go to claim its emissions reduction targets are in line with the 1.5C goal. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Australia’s fair share of action to give the world a chance of keeping global heating to 1.5C would mean reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2038 – more than a decade ahead of the government’s schedule, according to new scientific analysis.

To stay on track to keep global heating of 1.5C within reach – a goal the climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen has described as vital – Australia’s 2035 target would need to see a cut of 90% on 2005 levels by 2035, the analysis says.