Australia must implement a comprehensive National Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Strategy to meet emissions reduction targets and support the transition to a low-emission economy.

With support from the Australian government, a unified roadmap could align federal, state, and territory efforts, reduce emissions from hard-to-abate industries, and position Australia as a leader in low-carbon technologies.

Australia must increase funding for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to accelerate research and large-scale implementation in hard-to-abate sectors.

The Carbon Capture Technologies Program previously offered grants of up to $15 million to reduce emissions, but funding has been cut in the latest federal budget.

Renewing this support is crucial for balancing energy security and emissions goals. Without government investment, Australia risks falling behind in CCUS development needed to reach net zero.

Australia must adopt a technology-neutral approach to support hydrogen production, build a competitive industry and encourage diverse hydrogen technologies without favouring any single pathway.

Major importers like Japan and South Korea need reliable hydrogen supplies to meet their decarbonisation targets.

With government support, low-carbon hydrogen produced with CCS could provide a scalable, cost-effective solution, securing Australia’s role as a reliable supplier to key trade partners.

Australia must reduce methane emissions from coal mines, which made up around 6% of national emissions in 2023–24.

Supporting and deploying scope one abatement projects, such as Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) abatement, can drastically cut these emissions while keeping mining operations viable.

For regional communities, these initiatives offer a pathway to economic diversification and resilience during the shift to cleaner operations.

Government support and partnership with industry are essential to reducing scope one emissions and advancing national emissions reduction targets.

Australia must ensure coal mining receives fair treatment under the Safeguard Mechanism to prevent carbon leakage, maintain competitiveness, and support emissions reduction investments. With over 90% of coal exported to key partners like Japan, Korea, China, India, and Taiwan, balancing competitiveness with emissions reductions is crucial.

Recognising coal mining as an emissions-intensive, trade-exposed facility (EITE) and qualifying it for Trade Exposed Baseline Adjusted (TEBA) treatment with a lower baseline decline rate can help achieve this. Government support for TEBA adjustments can promote low-emission coal production, attract investment, and ensure Australian coal remains a reliable supplier without causing carbon leakage.