Omari Gates
Australia is one of the world's biggest per capita greenhouse gas emitters, and its approach to climate change has been the subject of long-running debates. The country is highly vulnerable to rising temperatures, with extreme weather events such as fires, floods, and droughts becoming more frequent and severe. Despite this, Australia has been criticised for its insufficient climate targets and policies, which fall short of the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit. While the Australian government maintains that it is on course to meet its 2030 commitments, opposition parties and experts argue that more ambitious targets and concrete actions are needed, particularly regarding emission reductions and the transition to net-zero emissions. Australia has taken some steps towards addressing climate change, including international diplomacy and cooperation, but the overall effectiveness of these efforts remains to be seen.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's climate change targets
Australia has been criticised for its approach to climate change, especially as it is one of the world's biggest per capita greenhouse gas emitters and is vulnerable to rising temperatures. At the same time, there is a denial about the impacts of rising CO2 levels, with the victorious Liberal (Conservative) Party categorising climate change as a "metropolitan fad for urban professionals".
Under the Paris Climate Agreement, Australia set a target of a 26-28% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. However, the United Nations (UN) reported that Australia was not on track to meet these targets, and its climate policies and commitments need substantial improvements to be consistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit. The Australian government maintains that it is on course to meet its 2030 commitments, stating that its climate policy settings are to "meet and beat the emissions reduction targets".
In 2023, Australia's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) had an emissions reduction target of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030. This was achieved in part through land sector sequestration, although the continued revision of Australia's historical and projected LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry) estimates has been criticised for eroding the ambition of its NDC for fossil fuel and industrial emissions.
At COP28, Australia pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad within a year, improving its international fossil fuel financing rating from "Highly Insufficient" to "Insufficient". However, to receive a better rating, Australia must increase its level of international climate finance and set more ambitious 2030 targets for emissions reductions.
While the Australian government has stated its commitment to ambitious and practical climate action, the country continues to face challenges in addressing climate change, including having the highest rate of deforestation in the developed world and the highest mammal extinction rate globally.
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Climate change policies
Australia has been criticised for its approach to climate change, especially considering its vulnerability to rising temperatures. The country is one of the world's biggest per capita greenhouse gas emitters. Under the Paris Climate Agreement, Australia has set a target of reducing emissions by 26-28% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. However, the United Nations (UN) reported that Australia was not on track to meet this target. The government has been accused of adopting a "'piecemeal approach to emission reduction'" and failing to acknowledge the need for a net-zero emissions plan.
Despite criticism, Australia has taken some steps to address climate change. The country has made commitments to international climate change partnerships and actions. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is responsible for climate change and energy portfolios. Australia has also pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad within a year following COP28. Additionally, the government has launched a climate public diplomacy program with a focus on renewable energy, Pacific Partnerships, and climate finance.
Australia has also made progress in adapting to the impacts of climate change. The government provides national climate science information to help Australians understand the potential consequences of a changing climate. It also invests in nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation, such as working with communities and industries to address the causes of climate change and support ecosystems.
However, Australia's climate targets and policies have been rated as "'Insufficient'" by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT). To improve, Australia needs to set more ambitious 2030 targets, establish policies to achieve its objectives, and increase its international climate finance. While some Australian states and territories have set more ambitious targets, the federal government has been criticised for a lack of ambitious climate action.
Overall, while Australia has taken some steps to address climate change, there are concerns that more urgent and significant action is needed, especially in reducing emissions and transitioning to a net-zero emissions economy.
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Climate finance
Australia has contributed to climate finance through various initiatives and partnerships. At COP29, Australia supported a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, committing to mobilise USD 300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries. This includes a broader call to scale up financing to at least USD 1.3 trillion per year to support climate action in developing countries. Additionally, Australia has pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad within a year, improving its international fossil fuel financing rating from "Highly Insufficient" to "Insufficient".
Australia has also committed to providing high-quality climate finance, with a focus on supporting countries in its region to strengthen their resilience to climate change impacts and achieve their renewable energy transition goals. Between 2020 and 2025, Australia expects to deliver $3 billion towards global efforts, including $1.3 billion in climate finance for the Pacific, primarily for adaptation purposes. The Australian Climate Finance Partnership (ACFP), established in partnership with the ADB, aims to provide up to AUD 140 million (USD 105 million) to accelerate private sector investment in low-emission, climate-resilient solutions for Pacific Island countries and Southeast Asia.
Australia channels a portion of its climate finance through multilateral institutions like the Asian Development Bank and Global Environment Facility, using OECD imputed multilateral shares to calculate the climate-specific percentage. The country also provides non-grant finance through intermediaries such as the Australian Development Investments and the Private Infrastructure Development Group. Additionally, Australia supports blended finance mechanisms and private sector investment in partner countries by providing technical assistance and public finance to de-risk and catalyse investment.
Australia's climate finance is calculated by assessing the proportion of Australian Government support to development partners that has a climate change objective. The OECD DAC Rio markers are used to guide this assessment, with activities having a primary or secondary climate objective counted as climate finance. Climate finance activities are categorised as supporting adaptation, mitigation, or both, and are apportioned accordingly.
While Australia has made commitments and contributions to climate finance, its overall climate finance rating has been assessed as "Insufficient" by the Climate Action Tracker. To improve this rating, Australia needs to increase its international climate finance contributions and enhance its domestic climate policies and targets.
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Climate diplomacy
Australia has been criticised for its approach to climate change, especially considering it is one of the world's biggest per capita greenhouse gas emitters and is one of the most vulnerable countries to rising temperatures. The country has been accused of adopting a "`piecemeal approach to emission reduction'" and failing to acknowledge the need to plan for a world of net-zero emissions.
Despite this, Australia has taken some steps towards addressing climate change through international cooperation and diplomacy. The country has made commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce its emissions by 26-28% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. However, these targets have been criticised as being too low, and Australia has been reported as not being on track to meet them.
At COP28, Australia pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad within a year, improving its international fossil fuel financing rating from "Highly Insufficient" to "Insufficient". Australia has also worked with other parties to the Paris Agreement to secure a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, committing to mobilise USD300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries.
The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) plays a key role in the country's climate diplomacy efforts. DFAT provides advice to the government on international climate issues and supports international cooperation through its development assistance program. The Ambassador for Climate Change, Ms Kristin Tilley, leads Australia's international climate diplomacy, focusing on engagement with the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
In 2024-25, DFAT launched a $535,000 climate public diplomacy program funding 16 programs across 39 locations, promoting four major themes: renewable energy superpower, Pacific Partnerships, Climate Finance, and Trade for Sustainable Growth. As part of this program, six officers were posted to various regions for six-month regional climate diplomacy postings, including Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and Central Asia.
Australia has also expressed its intention to bid to co-host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with its Pacific neighbours, aiming to accelerate global climate action and bring attention to the climate challenges in the region.
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Climate change mitigation
Australia is one of the world's biggest per capita greenhouse gas emitters, and its approach to climate change has been criticised. The country has been accused of adopting a "`piecemeal approach to emission reduction'" and failing to acknowledge the need for a plan to achieve net-zero emissions.
In 2020, the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, defended his government's stance on climate change, stating that his policies on reducing emissions would ensure a "vibrant and viable economy, as well as a sustainable environment". Under the Paris Climate Agreement, Australia set a target of reducing its emissions by 26-28% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. However, this goal has been criticised as being too low, and in 2019, the United Nations (UN) reported that Australia was not on track to meet its targets.
Despite this, Australia has taken some steps towards climate change mitigation. At COP28, Australia pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad within a year, improving its international fossil fuel financing rating from "Highly Insufficient" to "Insufficient". Additionally, Australia has made progress in integrating climate change considerations into its development assistance programs and engaging in international climate diplomacy.
However, Australia's climate targets, policies, and climate finance have been rated as "Insufficient" by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT). To improve its rating, Australia needs to set more ambitious 2030 targets for emissions reductions, establish policies to reach its objectives, and provide finance to support others.
Furthermore, Australia's States and Territories are leading the way on climate action, with all except Western Australia and the Northern Territory having more ambitious 2030 targets than the Federal Government or having 2035/2040 targets already in place. WWF-Australia is also working with communities, governments, and industries to address the causes of climate change and support ecosystems and vulnerable communities in adapting to its impacts.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has been criticised for its approach to climate change, with the OECD describing its strategy as a "piecemeal approach to emission reduction". The Australian government has defended its position, stating that it is committed to ambitious and practical climate action and is on course to meet its 2030 commitments.
Australia has set a target of a 26-28% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. However, these goals have been criticised as being too low, and it has been projected that Australia will not meet these targets. In 2022, Australia updated its target to a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Australia has pledged to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad and is investing in nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation. The Australian government has also established the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to address climate change and energy issues. Despite these efforts, Australia has been criticised for its continued approval of new coal mine projects and its high rate of deforestation.
