Australia on Thursday announced a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 percent from 2005 levels over the next decade a move that has drawn criticism from climate activists who argue the target falls short of what is needed.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit both a headline emissions reduction target and a detailed plan to the United Nations by 2035. So far, only around 40 nations have filed their climate strategies, despite UN calls for submissions ahead of COP30, the annual climate summit scheduled for November in Brazil.
China is anticipated to reveal its 2035 emissions goals in the coming days, ahead of a climate summit in New York held alongside the UN General Assembly.
Australia, one of the world’s top coal exporters, has faced international scrutiny over its climate commitments, particularly as it bids to co-host next year’s UN climate talks with Pacific Island nations vulnerable to rising sea levels.
The announcement comes shortly after a national climate risk assessment warned that rising seas and increased flooding could endanger the homes and livelihoods of over one million Australians by 2050.
A leading climate scientist described the new emissions target as “baffling,” citing the assessment’s findings and the nation’s high-profile role in upcoming global climate discussions.