BZE Plans for climate action in Australia

Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) is a think tank that advocates for climate solutions which emerge from its research. For more than a decade, BZE has produced detailed plans for the elimination of carbon emissions in each major emitting sector of the Australian economy, and for some regions of Australia.

Some of the BZE reports are mentioned below; the full reports are available free on the BZE website.

Australia: A renewable energy superpower (2015)

In this 2015 report, BZE promotes the vision of Australia as a renewable energy superpower. The report is the inspiration for a key part of this website: Australia’s progress to being a renewable energy superpower (Feedback reigns).

The Million Jobs Plan (June 2020)

A plan to stimulate the economy, following the coronavirus disruption, creating growth and employment by investing in low-carbon projects and the superpower vision.

Repowering the Northern Territory (2019)

How renewable energy can power jobs and investment in the Northern Territory.

Collie at the crossroads: planning a future beyond coal (2019)

BZE worked with the unions and the local council in this coal mining area of Western Australia, and won support for a plan delivering new jobs and new industries with the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Rethinking Cement (2017)

Rethinking Cement presents a pathway to zero carbon cement in Australia. Cement production is the biggest industrial producer of emissions, causing 8% of global carbon emissions, more than the global car fleet.

Electrifying industry (2018)

Industry can benefit from replacing fossil fuels with renewable electricity and eliminate up to 8% of Australian emissions. Electricity has advantages. It:

  • Can be used for high or low temperatures
  • Can double the efficiently of many industrial processes
  • Is quicker
  • Is more controllable
  • Is less labour intensive

Land Use : Agriculture and Forestry (2014)

Emissions from land use in Australia are the largest source of Australian emissions of greenhouse gases. They are even greater than emissions from generating electricity.  We could significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by changes to land use:

  • Reduce land clearance
  • Re-vegetate some grazing and cropping land
  • Reduce cattle and sheep numbers to cut methane emissions
  • Reduce the land area dedicated to producing feed for the cattle and sheep
  • Increase the draw-down of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, e.g. tree planting
  • Increase the carbon stored in our soils, e.g. adding biochar to our soils

** An old report, now removed from the BZE website

Electric Vehicles Report (2016)

Australia can move to electric vehicles, powered entirely by renewable electricity, in a decade. It is feasible and affordable, providing environmental, health and economic benefits. A shift to 100 per cent electric vehicles would eliminate at least six per cent of Australia’s greenhouse emissions.

Another benefit would be that Australia would avoid the cost and security risk of importing fossil fuel for transport.

** An old report, now removed from the BZE website

High Speed Rail Report (2014)

Australia could have a high-speed railway on the Australian east coast within a decade. These trains would:

  • Link Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane
  • with 21 stations linking 18 cities and towns,
  • Run at up to 350 km per hour
  • Have 60% of Australians living within 50 km of a station
  • Offer travel without carbon emissions
  • Attract 65% of the people travelling from Melbourne to Sydney (Report, p 29)
  • Take less than three hours to travel from Sydney to Melbourne
  • Cost $84 billion (Report, p. ix)

** An old report, now removed from the BZE website

Buildings Plan (2013)

There are no technical barriers to achieving zero emissions from Australia’s buildings within a decade. The plan would transform Australian buildings to:

  • Increase their efficiency,
  • Reduce energy bills,
  • Generate renewable energy in many buildings,
  • Replace gas appliances with electric appliances to end the use of gas.
  • Increase health and comfort, and
  • Increase workplace productivity.

** An old report, now removed from the BZE website

The Energy Freedom Home (2015)

A practical guidebook for renovators & builders. Be comfortable, healthy and independent in an energy efficient home powered by renewable energy. You could wipe out your home energy bills by moving through the nine steps in the guidebook:

  • Replacing old lights with LEDs
  • Stopping draughts
  • Improving insulation
  • Upgrading windows
  • Using energy-efficient appliances
  • Installing reverse-cycle air-conditioning
  • Using solar or heat-pump systems for water heating
  • Monitoring and controlling energy use, and
  • Using solar panels.

** An old report, now removed from the BZE website

Updated 20 Jan 2021