Introduction
The Authority is developing an Evidence Platform to track Australia’s progress towards a prosperous, resilient, net zero future. Initial work on the Platform is focused on building the methodology and piloting a small set of metrics and reference pathways.
We consulted early so stakeholder feedback could help shape measures of progress that are meaningful for governments, communities and businesses. We are focusing on metrics based on their policy impact and feasibility.
Feedback will shape the initial set of metrics and reference pathways. It will also guide development of the Evidence Platform in future years.
We thank all stakeholders who contributed submissions and engaged with us.
How we consulted
- Issues paper open to submissions from 23 March to 30 April 2026
- Targeted engagement with stakeholders.
What we heard
We have summarised what we heard from consultation below, in line with the 4 domains of the Evidence Platform.
Overarching themes
- The Platform should provide transparent and trusted inputs to inform the Climate Change Authority’s advice to government. It should not act as a policy decision or substitute for judgement.
- The Platform should track actual progress, while also showing early signals of whether action, investment and implementation are on track.
- Over time, the Platform should show how climate change and policy responses affect people, places, and the natural environment.
- The Platform should start with reliable indicators, identify data gaps, and improve over time.
Feedback by domain
Emissions reduction
- Track emissions outcomes with technology and activity metrics shown in national and sectoral contexts.
- Explain assumptions behind metrics, including reference pathways.
- Improve data transparency of removals and carbon markets, including the ACCU Scheme, soil carbon and engineered removals.
- Over time, consider additional metrics on: embodied emissions, low-carbon fuels, approvals, heavy vehicles, refrigerants and corporate transition alignment.
Adaptation and resilience
- Start adaptation and resilience reporting with a small set of robust indicators.
- Prioritise granular data where possible, as national measures can mask local impacts.
- Track the implementation and quality of resilience outcomes, not only if adaptation plans exist.
- Over time, consider additional metrics on insurance, heat related-health impacts, hazard exposure, infrastructure disruption, household resilience and regional vulnerability.
Green growth
- Embed market realities into the metrics, including project pipeline progress, deployment barriers, technology maturity, access to finance and export data.
- Track whether clean-industry investment supports new jobs, regional growth and productivity gains.
- Show how emissions-intensive and trade-exposed sectors are shifting over time.
- Over time, consider additional metrics on: circular material use, export capability and investment in low-emissions industrial capacity.
Critical enablers
- Track the conditions needed for progress over time, including finance, workforce, approvals, supply chains, policy stability and governance.
- Focus finance metrics on real-world transition activity and the funding gap between early-stage innovation and commercial-scale capital, preventing technologies from scaling.
- Apply a holistic equity lens across the Platform, including technology access, energy hardship, participation in decision making, workforce transition, social licence and community acceptance.
What we’ll do next
Your feedback will be used to improve the next stage of the Evidence Platform. We will refine what the platform covers, how progress is measured, and how data gaps are identified and explained. In 2026, we will focus on the most impactful metrics and continue to work with experts when technical input is needed.
Public submissions
The Authority released public submissions to this consultation on 23 March 2026.
View public submissions on our consultation hub. (Opens in a new tab/window)
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