Thread by @ThomasASpencer

1/n

As the wildfires ravage Australia, let's look into Australia's climate action and energy transition.

First: step back from claims that targets will be met/overachieved.

The only thing that matters is if a country is on track for zero emissions by mid-century.

2/n
Australia producers more CO2 emissions per unit of electricity production than either China or India.

But, the decarbonization of 🇦🇺's electricity production shows that transition is possible. 🇦🇺's electricity carbon intensity has come down 2.5% yoy since 2009

3/n
Per unit energy, Australia's industry energy consumption produces more CO2 than another major fossil fuel exporter, Canada.

At the same time, carbon intensity of industry energy has been stable not declining.

4/n
Australia's carbon intensity of transport energy has been flat not declining.

Yet, Norway shows what's possible, even in a sparsely populated country.

5/n
Australia's carbon intensity of residential energy consumption has been increasing, not decreasing, i.e. carbonizing not decarbonizing.

No transition to see here.

6/n
Among the high emitting rich countries, Australia, US, and Canada, Australia still has the highest per capita energy emissions.

The US's have fallen faster as well.

7/n
Among these countries, Australia's energy emissions have increased the most in the period 2005-2018.

8/n

Bottom line = Australia's energy system is not transitioning in any way consistent with reaching net zero by 2050.

That's all that matters.