The Lost Decade: why Australia is playing climate catch-up
For ten long years, Australia earned an unenviable reputation as one of the world鈥檚 climate change 鈥榣aggards鈥�. From 2013 to 2022 its governments weakened environmental rules, cut renewable energy funding and fought against international climate agreements - climate scientists and activists dubbed it the nation鈥檚 鈥楲ost Decade鈥�.
Now, new research by a group of experts from 黑料入口 and the University of Melbourne has revealed how Australia went from that era of inaction to passing its most ambitious climate law in a generation - and why its transformation still hangs in the balance.
The study published in the tracks how the election of a centre-left government in 2022 sparked big changes. Within months, Australia passed the Climate Change Act, promising to cut emissions by 43% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels and reach net zero by 2050.
The government launched plans for 82% renewable electricity by 2030, and pitched Australia as a 鈥楻enewable Energy Superpower鈥� thanks to its rich reserves of minerals like lithium and cobalt, which are essential for electric cars and solar panels.
But the researchers warn that this transformation is far from complete. Australia, they argue, is stuck on a 鈥榙ual track鈥�: expanding green energy on one hand, while doubling down on fossil fuel exports on the other. In fact, in 2024 the government unveiled a new 鈥楩uture Gas Strategy鈥�, signalling plans to keep supplying global gas markets well past 2050.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a story of both progress and paralysis. Australia has taken major steps forward, but the delays mean it is still playing catch-up - that makes it a follower, not a leader, in the global energy transition.
The research highlights that rather than setting bold new directions, the country copies climate policies from elsewhere (like the UK and New Zealand) and has to accept the prices set by bigger economies for its critical minerals. By waiting so long to act, Australia missed the chance to shape the global market.
It also demonstrates the human cost - experts interviewed described how climate scientists and renewable energy experts left the country in frustration, a 鈥榖rain drain鈥� that left Australia short of skilled workers just as the green economy began to boom.
鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 story is a warning for all countries, especially those heavily tied to fossil fuels,鈥� said co-author Dr Paul Tobin. 鈥淒elay now means paying the price later, not only in rising climate impacts like bushfires and floods, but also in lost opportunities for jobs, innovation and global influence.鈥�
鈥淚f countries want to shape the future rather than scramble to catch up, they need to act boldly and early. Climate change isn鈥檛 just an environmental issue - it鈥檚 about economic competitiveness, national identity and fairness to the next generation.鈥�