Australia raises emissions-cut target to at least 62% by 2035

Australia on Thursday unveiled a stricter target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, saying it will aim to reduce output by at least 62% from 2005 levels by 2035. The pledge is a step beyond the previous goal of cutting emissions by 43% by 2030 and comes as the government seeks to align domestic policy with climate science and international obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the target as a responsible plan grounded in science and supported by proven technology. 'This is a responsible target supported by science and a practical plan to get there, built on proven technology,' Albanese said when announcing the updated target. The policy is designed to place Australia within the emission-reduction benchmark suggested by the Climate Change Authority, the government’s climate policy advisory body, which recommended a reduction range of 62% to 70% from 2005 levels.

The government also signaled that the new target would be formally corroborated at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York later this month, reinforcing Australia’s commitments on the global stage amid growing scrutiny of its climate record.

The disclosure comes as a landmark risk assessment commissioned by the government warned that Australia faces a future of increasingly extreme weather driven by climate change. The report, described as the first of its kind in the country, warned that no community would be immune from cascading climate risks, including more intense heatwaves, worsening floods and more dangerous bushfires. It projected material consequences if policy efforts were not intensified, including potential increases in heat-related deaths, deteriorating water quality after floods, and rising sea levels that could threaten about 1.5 million people. The assessment also estimated a potential A$611 billion drop in property values tied to climate-related risks.

The government’s climate ambitions—while ambitious—remain a political flashpoint. Although Prime Minister Albanese’s Labor government has sought to project Australia as a renewables leader, opposition and some coalition lawmakers have pressed to temper costs and questioned the credibility of faster cuts. Opposition leader Sussan Ley, speaking after the target was announced, asserted that the coalition was 'dead against' the new target, arguing that it would impose disproportionate costs and question its credibility. The Liberal-National coalition has been internally divided at times on whether to maintain Australia’s net-zero pledge by 2050, with some members urging more cautious, gradual reduction trajectories.

The policy debate reflects broader tensions in Australia’s climate strategy: while the government promotes a transition to renewable energy and investment in cleaner technologies, it has continued to approve fossil-fuel projects. The most prominent recent decision occurred last week when Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project was approved to operate for another 40 years, until 2070—a move that drew sharp pushback from climate advocates. Greens critics, including Larissa Waters, condemned the decision as a betrayal of climate commitments by Labor, highlighting the stubborn fault lines within the political landscape over energy policy and emissions reductions.

Environmental advocates and researchers have been sounding alarms for years about Australia’s exposure to climate risks, and the new target appears to be an attempt to address those concerns through a credible, science-backed trajectory. The government has said that the target is consistent with the use of existing and emerging technologies, including scaling up renewables, storage solutions, and low-emission industrial processes, while balancing energy security and economic considerations for households and businesses.

Analysts note that achieving a 62% to 70% reduction by 2035 will require continued investment in clean energy, grid modernization, and policy certainty to attract investment and spur innovation. It would also necessitate ongoing reforms in sectors such as electricity generation, transport, and agriculture, coupled with appropriate carbon-pricing or policy measures to avoid market distortions and to accelerate decarbonization where costs are manageable for consumers.

Australia’s climate policy will continue to unfold in the context of global pressures to strengthen the 1.5°C pathway agreed under the Paris Agreement. The government’s new target is designed to demonstrate ambition on the global stage, even as domestic politics complicates consensus on pace and scope. With the UNGA appearance approaching, Canberra will be hoping that the updated target helps bridge domestic divisions while signaling to international partners that Australia intends to fulfill its climate responsibilities in an era of rapid environmental change.

In the months ahead, observers will be watching not only for how the government implements its 2035 target but also for how it navigates the balance between advancing a cleaner energy economy and maintaining the economic viability of industries and communities that have long depended on fossil fuels. The coming years are likely to test Australia’s ability to translate a science-based target into concrete policies, funding commitments, and measurable reductions in emissions, all while managing public expectations in a climate-constrained world.