On 18 September 2025, the Climate Change Authority released its 2035 Targets Advice report. The Authority is an independent statutory body established under the Climate Change Authority Act 2011 (Cth) to provide expert advice to the Australian Government on climate change policy.
The report recommended that Australia set a 2035 target to reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by 62-70% compared with 2005 levels. The Authority’s members agreed unanimously that that the science demands strong and urgent action and that the target recommended constitutes an ambitious, yet achievable goal.
In the preceding week, the Government released two landmark reports: Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment and its companion National Adaptation Plan. They offer comprehensive and sobering projections of the disruptions ahead for Australians if emissions are not cut and encourage other nations to follow suit.
The report and a summary of climate risks to Australia can be found here.