Australia is due to announce an emissions reduction target for 2035 later this month, ahead of the UN climate conference in Brazil.
So far, the Government has not made any firm commitments to put the target into law.
It follows visits from business and sporting groups to Parliament this week to push for stronger climate action.
The Government has been looking at proposals for a 65-75% emissions reduction target.
Climate change
Burning fossil fuels for everyday energy consumption, like coal, oil, and gas, releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere.
Adding more CO₂ and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere causes hotter temperatures on Earth.
Climate experts have repeatedly warned failing to reduce emissions will cause more extreme weather events, sea level rises, and food scarcity.
Electricity production, transport, and agriculture are the main contributors to Australia’s emissions.
Paris Agreement
In 2015, nearly all UN member countries, including Australia, signed the Paris Climate Agreement.
The Agreement binds countries to limit their emissions to ensure global temperatures don’t rise more than 1.5°C above levels recorded during 1850-1900, after which fossil fuel emissions rapidly increased.
Countries are required to regularly update their ‘NDCs’ (nationally-determined contributions), showing how they intend to meet the goal of limiting warming by 1.5°C .
Govt targets
The Government has already legislated two climate targets.
The first is reducing emissions by 43% compared to 2005 levels by 2030.
The second is net-zero by 2050. This refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and taken out of the atmosphere.
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Since both commitments are legislated, they require the Government and its relevant agencies to meet them.
2035 targets
Countries that have signed up to the Paris Agreement are set to announce their emissions targets for 2035 at this year’s COP30 climate conference in Brazil.
Each country’s submissions are due this month, including Australia. The Government is still yet to announce its target.
TDA asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of the 3 May election about his plans for a target. The PM said he was awaiting advice from the independent Climate Change Authority, which has been looking at 65-75% target.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has questioned whether it would be “feasible” to legislate a 2035 target.
Bowen told the ABC “it’s not technically necessary” to put the 2035 target into law, adding he would consult other senior ministers on whether it should be legislated after it is announced later this month.
Walking back policy commitments is easier than reversing legislation.
It would also mean Government agencies are not legally obliged to meet a 2035 goal.
Going further
The UN’s top climate official, Simon Steill, released a report last year which said existing global climate commitments “fall miles short“ of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
This week, several campaign groups have visited Parliament to urge the government to adopt a more ambitious 2035 target.
Business for 75% is a group of more than 500 companies, including Fortescue Metals and Ikea, calling to cut emissions by at least three-quarters of 2005 levels.
One of the groups to visit Parliament was FrontRunners, a group of dozens of athletes calling for bigger emissions cuts, including Matildas player Alex Chidiac, ex-Socceroo Craig Foster, and Fremantle Captain Alex Pearce.
AFLW player and FrontRunners director Nicola Barr told TDA: “ In Australia, we punch well above our weight when it comes to the world stage on sport.
“We think that we can when it comes to climate action as well.”
Activist group Parents for Climate has urged the government to bring forward net zero emissions to 2035.
