The Australian government needs to enact stricter climate change policies now, according to climate change policy expert and Charles Sturt University (CSU) professor Kevin Parton.

1. How much of the various greenhouse gases are we pumping into the atmosphere? “The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800 000 years.”
2. What impact do these gases have on climate change? “These gas increases are mainly caused by humans and most aspects of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions of CO₂ are stopped. The report emphasises the need to restrict global temperature increases to below two degrees Celsius.”
3. How urgent is the climate change problem?
   “It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. The problem continues to be urgent, and is certainly more urgent than the current Australian target to reduce emissions by five per cent by 2020. Australia’s climate policy will need to be tightened considerably.”
4. When should Australia be making the shift from oil, coal and gas to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power? “Australia should be moving towards renewable energy sources more quickly than we have been. This will not only reduce our greenhouse gas impact, but also place us at a competitive advantage in the new technologies relative to our international trading partners.”
5. What types of policy are needed to facilitate the shift? “A mix of policies is the best way to encourage the required shift in technology.  A carbon price set through an emissions trading scheme (ETS) has been shown to be economically efficient. An ETS is becoming the international standard.
   “Direct action as proposed by the current Commonwealth government and providing loan finance through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation can encourage fledgling renewable energy firms. Moreover, towards the end of the decade, if greenhouse gases continue to build-up, direct regulation and a smaller emissions cap in the ETS may be required to restrict emissions.”