Australia

Overall rating
Insufficient

Policies and action
against modelled domestic pathways

Insufficient
< 3°C World

NDC target
against modelled domestic pathways

Insufficient
< 3°C World

NDC target
against fair share

Insufficient
< 3°C World
Climate finance
Critically insufficient
Net zero target

year

2050

Comprehensiveness rated as

Poor
Land use & forestry

historically considered a

Source

List of references

ABC. (2023). Australia to re-join UN’s green climate fund after Morrison government withdrawal.

ABC News. (2023a, May 17). World’s biggest carbon capture plant running at one third capacity, Chevron Australia reveals. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-17/chevron-australia-carbon-capture-storage-gorgon-third-capacity/102357652

ABC News. (2023b, August 18). WA premier says fracking policies won’t change as environmental groups push for Kimberley ban. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-18/wa-premier-backs-fracking-kimberley-policies/102743938

ABC News. (2023c, November 14). Sea dumping legislation paves way for Santos’s carbon capture and storage project. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-14/sea-dumping-carbon-capture-storage-legislation-santos-barossa/103078290

ABC News. (2024a, May 23). Australia’s largest coal-fired power plant Eraring in Lake Macquarie to stay open for two extra years. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-23/eraring-power-station-to-stay-open/103882576

ABC News. (2024b, August 5). WA Premier says he’s hopeful Woodside’s Browse gas project is still viable, despite regulator’s environmental concerns. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-05/environmental-concerns-over-woodside-browse-gas-project/104185666

ABC News. (2024c, August 22). David Pocock, Greens call for investigation into $1.5 billion Middle Arm investment “shrouded in secrecy.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-22/middle-arm-industrial-precinct-nt-senate-inquiry-report-released/104250650

ABC News. (2024d, September 24). Government green-lights three NSW coal mine extensions, angering environmental groups. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-24/federal-government-approves-coal-mine-extensions/104391416

ABC News. (2024e, October 10). Labor announces surprise parliamentary inquiry into nuclear power, raising hopes of an “adult conversation.” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-10/labor-announces-nuclear-power-inquiry/104456124

AEMO. (2024a). 2023-24 Inputs, Assumptions and Scenarios Report Workbook. https://aemo.com.au/energy-systems/major-publications/integrated-system-plan-isp/2024-integrated-system-plan-isp/current-inputs-assumptions-and-scenarios

AEMO. (2024b). 2024 Integrated System Plan. https://aemo.com.au/energy-systems/major-publications/integrated-system-plan-isp/2024-integrated-system-plan-isp

AEMO. (2024c). 2024 Wholesale Electricity Market Electricity Statement of Opportunities. https://aemo.com.au/en/energy-systems/electricity/wholesale-electricity-market-wem/wem-forecasting-and-planning/wem-electricity-statement-of-opportunities-wem-esoo

AEMO. (2024d). Market Data Western Australia - Facilities. https://aemo.com.au/energy-systems/electricity/wholesale-electricity-market-wem/data-wem/market-data-wa

AEMO Services. (2024a). Capacity Investment Scheme NEM Generation - CIS Tender 1. https://aemoservices.com.au/tenders/CIS-Tender-1-Generation-NEM

AEMO Services. (2024b). Capacity Investment Scheme WEM Clean Dispatchable - CIS Tender 2. https://aemoservices.com.au/tenders/cis-tender-2-wem-dispatchable

Andrew Macintosh. (2022). The Emissions Reduction Fund’s Landfill Gas Method: An Assessment of its Integrity. https://law.anu.edu.au/sites/all/files/erf_landfill_gas_method_-_an_assessment_of_its_integrity_16_march_2022.pdf

Australia Institute. (2023). A fair COP31. www.australiainstitute.org.au

Australian Government. (2021a). Australia’s Long-term Emissions Reduction Plan. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/australias-long-term-emissions-reduction-plan.pdf

Australian Government. (2021b). Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan - Modelling and Analysis.

Australian Government. (2021c). Australia’s Long-term Emissions Reduction Plan - Modelling and Analysis. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/australias-long-term-emissions-reduction-plan-modelling.pdf

Australian Government. (2021d). Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution Communication 2021. Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

Australian Government. (2022). Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution Communication 2022.

Australian Government. (2024). Investing in a Future Made in Australia. https://budget.gov.au/content/03-future-made.htm

Chevron. (2021, July 19). Chevron Australia CO2 Injection Milestone. https://australia.chevron.com/news/2021/co2-injection-milestone

Chevron. (2024). Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions for a Lower Carbon Future. https://australia.chevron.com/what-we-do/gorgon-project/carbon-capture-and-storage

Clean Energy Council. (2024). Clean Energy Australia 2024. https://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/news-resources/clean-energy-australia-report

Clean Energy Regulator. (2023a). Emissions Reduction Fund project register. https://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/ERF/project-and-contracts-registers/project-register

Clean Energy Regulator. (2023b). Safeguard facility reported emissions 2021-22. https://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/NGER/The-Safeguard-Mechanism/safeguard-data/safeguard-facility-reported-emissions/safeguard-facility-reported-emissions-2021-22

Clean Energy Regulator. (2024). Safeguard facility reported emissions 2022-23. https://cer.gov.au/markets/reports-and-data/safeguard-facility-reported-emissions-data

Climate Action Tracker. (2023a). Clean electricity within a generation: Paris-aligned benchmarks for the power sector. https://climateactiontracker.org/documents/1159/CAT_2023-09-19_Briefing_ParisBenchmarks_PowerSector.pdf

Climate Action Tracker. (2023b). Countdown to COP28: time for world to focus on oil and gas phase-out, renewables target, not distractions like CCS. https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/countdown-to-COP28/

Climate Analytics. (2022). Warming Western Australia, How Woodside’s Scarborough and Pluto Project undermines the Paris Agreement.

Climate Analytics. (2023). Emissions impossible: Unpacking CSIRO GISERA Beetaloo Middle Arm fossil gas emissions estimates. https://climateanalytics.org/publications/emissions-impossible#

Climate Analytics. (2024a). Australia’s global fossil fuel carbon footprint. https://climateanalytics.org/publications/australias-global-fossil-fuel-carbon-footprint

Climate Analytics. (2024b). Fracking the Kimberley: the Canning Basin development plans. https://climateanalytics.org/publications/fracking-the-kimberley-the-canning-basin-development-plans

Climate Change Authority. (2023). 2023 Annual Progress Report. https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2023-11/2023 AnnualProgressReport_0.pdf

Climate Change Authority. (2024a). Built Environment - Sector Pathways Review. https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-09/2024SectorPathwaysReviewBuilt%20Environment.pdf

Climate Change Authority. (2024b). Sector Pathways Review.

Climate Choices. (2023). What the ACT Government is doing. https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/energy/what-the-act-government-is-doing

Climate Council. (2024). Race to the top: Australia’s clean energy momentum. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/race-to-the-top-australias-clean-energy-momentum/

COP28. (2023a). Global Renewable and Energy Efficiency Pledge. https://www.cop28.com/en/global-renewables-and-energy-efficiency-pledge

COP28. (2023b). UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth. (2024). Legal and social licence considerations for nuclear energy in Australia - Corrs Chambers Westgarth. https://www.corrs.com.au/insights/legal-and-social-licence-considerations-for-nuclear-energy-in-australia

Cronshaw, I. (2020). Australia’s electricity options: nuclear. Research Paper Series 2020-21 Parliament of Australia . https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/7451398/upload_binary/7451398.pdf

CSIRO. (2024). HyResource. https://research.csiro.au/hyresource/projects/facilities/

DCCEEW. (2022a). Annual Climate Change Statement 2022. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/annual-climate-change-statement-2022.pdf

DCCEEW. (2022b). Australia’s emissions projections 2022. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/australias-emissions-projections-2022

DCCEEW. (2023a). Australian Energy Update 2023. https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/australian-energy-update-2023

DCCEEW. (2023b). Australia’s emissions projections 2023. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/australias-emissions-projections-2023

DCCEEW. (2023c). National Electric Vehicle Strategy. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/transport/national-electric-vehicle-strategy

DCCEEW. (2023d). Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: December 2022. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/nggi-quarterly-update-dec-2022.pdf

DCCEEW. (2023e). Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: September 2022. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/nggi-quarterly-update-sept-2022.pdf

DCCEEW. (2024a). Australian Energy Statistics 2024. https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/australian-energy-update-2024

DCCEEW. (2024b). Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts. https://greenhouseaccounts.climatechange.gov.au/

DCCEEW. (2024c). Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/publications/australias-national-hydrogen-strategy

DCCEEW. (2024d). Australia’s offshore wind areas. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/renewable/offshore-wind/areas

DCCEEW. (2024e). Capacity Investment Scheme Impact Analysis. https://oia.pmc.gov.au/published-impact-analyses-and-reports/capacity-investment-scheme

DCCEEW. (2024f). National Electric Vehicle Strategy: Annual Update 2023-24. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/transport/national-electric-vehicle-strategy

DCCEEW. (2024g). Powering Australia. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/strategies-and-frameworks/powering-australia

DCCEEW. (2024h). Quarterly Update of Australia’ National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: December 2023. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-gas-inventory-quarterly-update-december-2023

DCCEEW. (2024i). Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: March 2024. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-gas-inventory-quarterly-update-march-2024

DCCEEW. (2024j). Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: September 2023. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-gas-inventory-quarterly-update-september-2023

DCCEEW. (2024k). Safeguard Mechanism - About the Safeguard Mechanism and the Reforms. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/safeguard-mechanism-reforms-factsheet-2023.pdf

Department of Climate Change. (2022). National Waste Policy - Action Plan Annexure. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/national-waste-policy-action-plan-annexure-2022.pdf

Department of Climate Change. (2023a). Capacity Investment Scheme Consultation Paper.

Department of Climate Change. (2023b). Reducing agricultural and land sector emissions. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/emissions-reduction/agricultural-land-sectors

Department of Climate Change, E. the E. and W. (2023c). Safeguard Mechanism Reform Position Paper. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Department of Foreign Affairs. (2023). Counting Australia’s Climate Finance.

Department of Industry. (2021). Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: September 2021.

DISER. (2021). Australia’s emissions projections 2021. DISER. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/australias-emissions-projections-2021

DISR. (2023). Resources and Energy Major Projects 2023. https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/resources-and-energy-major-projects-2023

DISR. (2024a). Future Gas Strategy.

DISR. (2024b). Resources and energy quarterly: September 2024. https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/resources-and-energy-quarterly-september-2024

DITRDCA. (2024). Cleaner, Cheaper to Run Cars: The Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. https://oia.pmc.gov.au/published-impact-analyses-and-reports/cleaner-cheaper-run-cars-australian-new-vehicle-efficiency

Electric Vehicle Council. (2024). Australian Electric Vehicle Industry Recap 2023. https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EVC-Australian-EV-Industry-Recap-2023.pdf

Ember. (2022). Tackling Australia’s Coal Mine Methane Problem.

Energy Institute. (2024). Statistical Review of World Energy. https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review

Global Energy Monitor. (2023). Boom and Bust Coal 2023. www.e3g.org.

Global Wind Energy Council. (2024). Global Wind Report 2024. https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024/

Grattan Institute. (2024). Six problems with the Coalition’s nuclear plan. https://grattan.edu.au/news/six-problems-with-the-coalitions-nuclear-plan/

Gutwein, P. (2020, March 3). Premier of Tasmania - State of the the State Address. Tasmanian Government. http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/state_of_the_the_state_address

IEA. (2022). Global Methane Tracker 2022. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2022

IEA. (2023a). Energy Policy Review Australia 2023. https://www.iea.org/reports/australia-2023

IEA. (2023b). Energy Policy Review Australia 2023. https://www.iea.org/reports/australia-2023

IEA. (2023c). Methane Tracker. https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/methane-tracker-data-explorer

IEA. (2023d). Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5 °C Goal in Reach 2023 Update. International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach

IEA. (2024a). Global EV Data Explorer. https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/global-ev-data-explorer

IEA. (2024b). Integrating Solar and Wind. https://www.iea.org/reports/integrating-solar-and-wind

IEEFA. (2024). Nuclear in Australia would increase household power bills. https://ieefa.org/resources/nuclear-australia-would-increase-household-power-bills

Liberal Party of Australia. (2024). Australia’s Energy Future. https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2024/06/19/australias-energy-future

Macintosh, A., Butler, D., Ansell, D., & Waschka, M. (2022). The Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF): Problems and Solutions.

Macintosh, A., Butler, D., Evans, M. C., Larraondo, P. R., Ansell, D., & Gibbons, P. (2022). The ERF’s Human-induced Regeneration (HIR): What the Beare and Chambers Report Really Found and a Critique of its Method.

Macintosh, A., Butler, D., Evans, M. C., Waschka, M., & Ansell, D. (2023). Implications of the Independent Review of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) and low integrity ACCUs for Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism. https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/bowen/media-releases/government-

Minister for Finance. (2023). Budget Paper No. 1. www.pmc.gov.au/

Minister for Foreign Affairs, & Minister for Climate Change and Energy. (2023a). Australia joins clean energy transition partnership. https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/bowen/media-releases/joint-media-release-australia-joins-clean-energy-transition-partnership

Minister for Foreign Affairs, & Minister for Climate Change and Energy. (2023b). Supporting the Pacific family at COP28 to respond to climate change. https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/bowen/media-releases/joint-media-release-supporting-pacific-family-cop28-respond-climate-change

Northern Territory Government. (2024). Carbon Capture Utilisation and storage. https://territorygas.nt.gov.au/projects/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage

Open Electricity. (2024a). Open Electricity NEM Tracker. https://explore.openelectricity.org.au/energy/nem/

Open Electricity. (2024b). Open Electricity SWIS Tracker. https://explore.openelectricity.org.au/energy/wem/

Oxfam. (2023). Oxfam response to Australia climate finance announcement.

RenewEconomy. (2023). South Australia’s remarkable 100 per cent renewables run extends to over 10 days. https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australias-remarkable-100-per-cent-renewables-run-extends-to-over-10-days/

Reputex. (2023). The Impact of New Entrants on the Safeguard Mechanism Emissions Budget.

Sadavarte, P., Pandey, S., Maasakkers, J. D., Lorente, A., Borsdorff, T., Denier van der Gon, H., Houweling, S., & Aben, I. (2021). Methane Emissions from Superemitting Coal Mines in Australia Quantified Using TROPOMI Satellite Observations. Environmental Science and Technology, 55(24), 16573–16580. https://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.EST.1C03976/SUPPL_FILE/ES1C03976_SI_002.MP4

SEI, Climate Analytics, E3G, IISD, & UNEP. (2023). The Production Gap: Phasing down or phasing up? Top fossil fuel producers plan even more extraction despite climate promises. https://doi.org/10.51414/sei2023.050

Sidney Morning Herald. (2023). Liddell coal plant shuts down to make way for renewables hub. https://www.smh.com.au/national/world-is-changing-liddell-coal-plant-turns-off-ahead-of-its-renewable-future-20230428-p5d3zh.html

The Australia Institute. (2021). Questionable integrity Non-additionality in the Emissions Reduction Fund’s Avoided Deforestation Method.

The Australia Institute. (2024a). Fossil fuel subsidies in Australia 2024. https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-australia-2024/

The Australia Institute. (2024b, September 24). Coal Mine Approvals Undermine Climate Goals, Government Rhetoric. https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/coal-mine-approvals-undermine-climate-goals-government-rhetoric/

The Guardian. (2024, September 25). Labor’s coalmine expansion approvals undermine its credibility on the climate crisis. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/25/labors-coalmine-expansion-approvals-undermine-its-credibility-on-the-global-stage

Latest publications

Stay informed

Subscribe to our newsletter