Australia Aims for Bold Emissions Cuts by 2035

Mon Oct 20 2025 23:13:21 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant announcement, Australia commits to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 62% by 2035, following global pressures and a changing climate.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a new target to cut carbon emissions by at least 62% compared to 2005 levels by 2035. This update comes as part of Australia's responsibilities under the Paris Climate Agreement. The push for sustainable practices is vital as the country faces extreme weather events linked to climate change. The announcement takes place amidst political debate and ongoing reliance on fossil fuels.

Australia, one of the world's biggest polluters per capita, has set an ambitious goal to cut its carbon emissions by at least 62% from 2005 levels over the next decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced this new target on Thursday, which surpasses the previous commitment of reducing greenhouse gases by 43% by 2030.

Albanese stated, This is a responsible target supported by science and a practical plan to get there, built on proven technology. This announcement follows a dire risk assessment warning of increasingly extreme weather conditions due to climate change, underscoring the urgency of such policies.

The target aligns with a recommendation from the Climate Change Authority for an emission reduction benchmark of 62% to 70%. The Prime Minister is expected to confirm this commitment at the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement stipulates that countries must work to keep global temperature increases below 1.5°C, a threshold necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Australia has experienced severe climate-related events in recent years, including historic bushfires and catastrophic flooding, which have put immense pressure on the government to enhance its climate strategies.

A recent report highlighted that Australia has already reached a warming level above 1.5°C, warning that failure to take action could result in severe consequences, including increased deaths from heatwaves and significant property value losses.

The new climate agenda, however, remains contentious in Australia's political landscape, with the opposition party expressing strong opposition to Albanese's target while also facing internal debates about climate commitment. In contrast, many independent lawmakers are pushing for even more aggressive emissions reductions.

Despite these challenges, Albanese's government aims for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower while simultaneously continuing to approve fossil fuel projects, leading to critiques from environmentalists.