For one, Australia just announced a game-changing new climate target. Their aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 62 to 70 percent below 2005 levels by 2035. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese first announced this target at a press conference held outside the usual Canberra press gallery. The Prime Minister and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen are preparing to head to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This great announcement comes just in time before their upcoming trip.
This target is a significant victory for the Australian federal government. Action against climate change. The accompanying announcement was full of climate advice spanning hundreds of pages. Much of this understanding was achieved thanks to the Climate Change Authority, Treasury and many other departments. Reporters were given little time to digest this massive wealth of information before the press conference started.
Government’s Approach and Emission Sources
At the end of that press conference, Albanese laid out the government’s intention to take a “sectoral” approach to the transport sector. This strategy will be key to achieving the 2035 target. Such an approach should include concrete actions for each sector—particularly transportation, energy and agriculture—in line with the science.
The federal government is still aggressively approving new sources of fugitive emissions. This happens at the same time that new mining projects are being launched, and gas developments expanded. Fugitive emissions are emitted from a wide array of natural and industrial processes. They represent around a fifth of Australia’s total national emissions. Environmentalists and industry critics say this ongoing approval of fossil fuel-related projects directly contradicts the government’s stated climate goals.
Yet even with these ambitious targets, Australia’s annual emissions have flatlined since 2022. The government has yet to announce any new policies to reduce emissions. This has led environmental advocates to question if the new targets are realistic or not.
“They have been almost entirely overlooked in recent climate policy debate as all sides engaged in the game of percents.” – Richard Denniss from the Australia Institute
Criticism and Concerns
The absence of more specific guidance on the methods used to legislate the 2035 target has been widely criticized. The government has not clarified whether or not this target will be introduced to Parliament as binding legislation. This ambiguity begs many questions as to how enforceable and accountable it will be.
Critics such as Richard Denniss, executive director of the Australia Institute, have sounded alarms. They maintain that today’s climate action framework needs more accountability and oversight. He warned that lack of rigorous scrutiny means no accountability for Australia’s current inadequate climate policy.
“This ensures that there is little scrutiny of Australia’s lack of climate action in the present.” – Richard Denniss from the Australia Institute
It was the lack of opposition leader Peter Dutton at the press conference that raised eyebrows. Environmental advocates cheered his confirmation, but some said that his absence was a sign that he may be unwilling to tackle the biggest environmental challenges. Some went so far as to call him “allergic to the gallery,” revealing current and existing bipartisan divides over climate responsibility.
Future Implications and International Context
Australia is preparing for high-level international climate discussions in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. This target should help influence how the world sees Australia’s commitment to combating the climate crisis. It’s not yet clear how these targets will be implemented in practice. The current evolving landscape of fossil fuels may pose promising potential contradictions that defy their triumph.
The government faces a delicate balancing act: promoting ambitious climate targets while managing economic interests tied to fossil fuel industries. Experts suggest that without concrete legislative actions and a clear strategy for emissions reduction, Australia risks falling short of its climate commitments.
“Only [be] used in very specific circumstances.” – [source]
