Time running out to make prosperous transition to net zero emissions, Australia warned

Climate change minister Chris Bowen has said ‘the job is far from done’ as the Climate Change Authority called on the government to act faster on transitioning to a clean economy. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Australia risks falling short of its 2030 climate target and time is running out for it to make a prosperous transition to net zero emissions on its own terms, the independent Climate Change Authority has warned.

The authority’s annual assessment of Australia’s progress on climate said the country still had time to take advantage of the opportunities a net zero world presented, but it risked the transition to a clean economy being “dictated to us by the actions of others around the world” the longer it delayed.