Australians want the government to plan for an orderly phase down of coal use

The 2019 Climate of the Nation report, to be launched by the Australia Institute and Independent federal MP Zali Steggall, shows nearly four out of five people surveyed are also worried climate change will lead to water shortages in cities.

Much of eastern Australia is currently in the grip of crippling drought and firefighters in Queensland are battling one of the worst starts to the bushfire season on record.

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise during the first quarter of 2019, according to the government's latest greenhouse gas emissions report, but remain down significantly since peaking in 2007.

Of the nearly 2000 people surveyed nationally 68 per cent were in favour of moving away from coal and a similar proportion supported a 2050 zero net emissions target along the lines of that recently adopted by the United Kingdom.

The report, which has been measuring community attitudes on the issue since the now defunct Climate Institute first released its results in 2007, also found that three quarters of Queenslanders want coal-fired power stations phased out. More than 70 per cent of those surveyed said they would consider using less electricity during peak periods if paid to do so.

Australia Institute's climate and energy program director Richie Merzian said the results showed Australians wanted their government to do more to address climate change.

"The use of dubious carry-over credits from the Kyoto Protocol will be considered at the next UN Climate Conference in Chile in December 2019 and Australia could find itself isolated in defending their use, which is considered against the spirit of the Paris Agreement by New Zealand, the UK, Germany and many others," Mr Merzian said.

"Whether or not Prime Minister Morrison attends the Climate Summit in New York [later this month], Australia will come under pressure to defend five years of rising national emissions, as a result of growing fossil fuel extraction and exports," he said.

The Prime Minister's office was asked if he intended to attend the Climate Summit but did not respond by deadline.

Despite a $500 million pledge to help its neighbours deal with the impact of climate change at last month's Pacific Leaders Forum some regional leaders likened Australia's attitude to that of an abusive family member after refusing to commit to a phase down of coal use.

In February Australia's largest coal miner Glencore announced it would cap its global thermal coal production on environmental grounds after pressure from investors. BHP has also flagged its intention to exit the thermal coal industry.

"This latest report shows that Australians support far more ambitious climate and energy policies than the federal government is currently delivering," Ms Steggall said.

Australia is currently on track to meet or exceed its 2020 renewable energy target of 33,000 gigawatt-hours, or 23.5 per cent of total electricity production, by 2020. The Abbott government scaled that target back from 41,000 gigawatt hours in 2015.

"Australians are rightly concerned about more extreme heat waves, droughts and bushfires and they want the Morrison government to show leadership on climate change and do more to prepare for the impacts that are already locked in," Ms Steggall said.

The Canberra Times