Australia faces a growing risk of missing its 2035 climate targets unless it implements deeper reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, according to a government report released on Thursday. Current projections indicate emissions will fall 48% by 2035 from 2005 levels, falling short of the official goal of a 62% to 70% reduction, officials said. The forecast does not account for new measures planned under the country’s Net Zero Plan.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen told parliament that while the 2035 target remains achievable, additional work is required. “The emissions projections also show additional work is needed,” Bowen said, emphasizing that further action will be necessary to meet the nation’s climate goals.
Australia’s emissions reduction efforts have been hampered by a slow rollout of transmission infrastructure capable of supporting solar and wind generation, delaying renewable energy projects and dampening investment. The bottlenecks threaten Australia’s aspirations to become a major green energy exporter.
Among G20 nations, Australia ranks as the world’s third-largest per capita carbon emitter after Saudi Arabia and Canada, with per-person emissions of 14.4 tons of CO2 in 2024, according to BloombergNEF analysis of European Commission data. To stay on track for net zero, emissions would need to be cut by 71% by 2035. Current Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water projections indicate Australia is on track for a 42% reduction by 2030, slightly below its 43% target.
The release of the projections coincided with the Albanese government securing support from the Greens to pass a landmark environmental law overhaul. The new legislation will create a nationwide Environmental Protection Authority and require large projects to disclose emissions, signaling stronger regulatory oversight in Australia’s efforts to meet its climate objectives.
