Climate Risks Urge Action
The goal came on the back of a major national risk assessment advising that the risks of the worsening heatwaves, bushfires, flooding, and rising sea levels associated with climate change and human activity will increase. The report detailed that Australia has already warmed more than 1.5 °C and that no community is immune from "cascading, compounding and concurrent" adverse events.
Without stronger action, the report warned of more deaths related to heat, poorer water quality as a result of floods and bushfires, and 1.5 million people being threatened by sea level rise. A potential drop in property values of A$611bn ($406bn; £300bn) as a result of climate damage was also estimated.
The new emissions target is consistent with the Climate Change Authority reporting that 62% to 70% reductions from 2005 levels would be an appropriate next reduction target. Albanese is expected to announce the goal later this month when he meets at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The commitment is part of Australia's obligation under the Paris Climate Agreement to support keeping global temperature increases below 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
Political Divisions and Energy Considerations
Alongside the announcement, Australia's trajectory toward reaching net zero by 2050 remains politically contentious, with the Liberal National coalition, with opposition leader Sussan Ley, rejecting the higher target as lacking "both cost and credibility." There are also calls from some independent and Greens MPs for Australia to reduce emissions quicker than the 43% committed to by 2030.
Since coming into power in 2022, Albanese's Labour government has sought to establish Australia as a renewable energy superpower while also costing several fossil fuel developments of major scale. Just last week, Woodside's North West Shelf gas development gained approvals to continue operation until 2070, causing significant outcry from environmental groups, with Greens senator Larissa Waters describing the decision as the "betrayal by Labour."
Australia's climate continues to be impacted by climate change, with mass coral bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef, historic seasons of bushfires, and significant flooding events. Officials claim the emissions target strikes the balance between climate action urgency and economic and energy considerations.
