The climate crisis is hitting Australians hard, with farmers in South Australia and Victoria battling drought while Queensland farmers recover from floods. Globally, 2024 was the hottest year on record, the first time average temperatures exceeded 1.5C above preindustrial levels. Australians face longer, deadlier heatwaves, devastating bushfires, more frequent floods, and rising sea levels threatening coastal communities.
Economically, Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred added $1.2bn to the federal budget this year. Scientists have long warned that slashing climate pollution is critical. The last parliament began turning around Australia's highly polluting economy: about 40% of main grid electricity now comes from renewables with storage, a vehicle efficiency scheme cuts transport pollution, and big polluters are being regulated.
The government must set a 2035 emissions reduction target, guided by the Climate Change Authority (CCA) headed by Matt Kean. The world's best scientists say Australia must cut pollution by at least 75% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2035. State and territory commitments could slash pollution by 66% to 71%, but a 71% target should be a floor, not a ceiling.
Climate science shows that a 70% target aligns with global warming well over 2C, which would be catastrophic: communities forced to move, coral reefs destroyed, and severe economic costs. Australia, as the world's 14th largest polluter and a major fossil fuel exporter, must set a strong target to lead alongside other climate leaders, especially as the US steps back under Donald Trump's 'drill, baby drill' agenda.
What is possible is often underestimated. In 2006, few homes had solar panels; today over 4m do. The cost of solar, wind and batteries has fallen faster than expected. Targets are only as good as the action behind them, and Australia must go faster. The 2035 target must be a line of defence against escalating climate dangers, and Australians expect meaningful action after giving Labor a historic mandate.
