A new report from Australia's Climate Commission has outlined the effects climate change is having on Australia's extreme weather events.
According to the report, extreme weather events such as drought, flooding, heat waves and bush fires are set to increase in intensity and frequency.
"This highlights the need for strong and effective policies because the action we take today will largely determine the severity of climate change that our grandchildren will experience," said Greg Combet, minister for climate change, industry and innovation.
"Increasing greenhouse gas emissions is like loading the dice for more extreme weather events in the future. We owe it to future generations to clean up our economy and reduce carbon pollution."
Australia's use of clean and renewable technologies has proliferated, with a high concentration of rooftop solar panels and solar power plants.
The carbon pricing mechanism has streamed greater investment back into the clean technology industry. Since its inception, the share of energy from renewable sources has increased by nearly 30 per cent, while the share from coal-fired production has decreased by nearly ten per cent.
Furthermore, in the carbon pricing mechanism's first six months, emissions from electricity generated in the National Electricity market dropped by 8.6 per cent.
As well as this, Australia's recent reaffirmation of the Renewable Energy Target of 20 per cent by 2020 has helped stave off uncertainties in clean energy investment while reinforcing the importance of reducing carbon emissions.
The government's Clean Technology Programs, worth $1.2 billion, have also been encouraging businesses, industries and manufacturers to clean up their act, providing funding for improved energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction measures.
Most recently, under the program's Food and Foundries Investment initiative, Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Ltd received a grant to lessen the amount of plastic used in their bottles.
Posted by Bob Dawson