Full Story Matt Kean on Australia’s future in a climate crisis
Sep 20, 2025
Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority and former NSW treasurer, dives into Australia's ambitious climate goals. He discusses the Science-based target for a 62-70% emissions cut by 2035, informed by a national risk assessment painting a bleak picture of the future. Kean elaborates on the importance of tech advancements, like EV uptake, and the need for bipartisan support in addressing climate challenges. He also reflects on how international dynamics influence Australia's approach and the crucial distinction between domestic targets and fossil fuel exports.
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Floods And Fires Shaped His View
- Matt Kean recounts paying for the Lismore floods as NSW Treasurer and witnessing Black Summer bushfires.
- Those experiences convinced him the fiscal cost of inaction outweighs the cost of taking action.
Three-Step Target Design Method
- Start target-setting with the science, then model economy-wide pathways and run bottom-up feasibility checks.
- Combine these three steps to produce a target that is both ambitious and achievable.
Bold Technology Assumptions Built-In
- The Authority's ground-up model assumes extreme shifts: >90% renewables and 85% EV new sales by 2035.
- Those assumptions are conservative but signal a major electricity and transport transformation is plausible.