Australia is at a critical juncture in its transition to a low-emissions future. Meeting our climate goals will require faster action, stronger collaboration, and a clear focus on both reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of changing climate.

The Climate Change Authority’s fourth Annual Progress Report finds that Australia is making progress on emissions reduction, but more is needed to meet our targets and adaptation needs. 

Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035. To stay on track, the rate of reductions must double in the 5 years to 2030 and triple in the decade to 2035. Achieving these goals will require coordinated efforts across government, industry and communities.

The Authority makes 7 recommendations for priority action: 

  1. streamlining approvals for renewable energy projects
  2. extending the Capacity Investment Scheme to maintain momentum
  3. installing technologies that keep the electricity grid secure as fossil fuel generators retire
  4. ensuring regional communities share in the benefits of clean energy projects
  5. taking a deep look at opportunities to radically reduce fossil methane emissions
  6. making sure Australians are not locked into living and working in places exposed to dangerous climate risks
  7. partnering with investors to help communities and businesses build resilience. 

Other resources

Learn more by checking out the media release, FAQs, climate policy tracker and glossary.

Further reading

Aerial photograph; A group of wind turbines in an agricultural field from above the clouds
A new UNEP report highlights that every fraction of a degree matters as global warming approaches 1.5 °C.
  • Climate targets
Two coworkers walking and discussing their tasks while surrounded by solar panels.
This paper explains how misinformation affects climate policy and what it means for the Climate Change Authority’s (the Authority’s) work.
  • Adaptation
  • Climate targets
  • Communities
  • Emissions
Horizontal landscape photo of a dirt road lined with grass, shrubs and Eucalyptus trees lit up by the late afternoon sunshine near Armidale, New England high country, NSW in Spring
Enhancing stability and integrity of the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme.
  • Agriculture and land
  • Emissions

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