Australia falls short on climate commitments: current policies will miss 2035 emissions target by massive gap

Australia is heading toward a significant climate policy failure, with new government projections revealing the country will dramatically miss its 2035 emissions reduction goals under current measures. Official data released Thursday shows Australia is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by only 48% below 2005 levels by 2035—falling far short of the government’s committed target range of 62-70% reduction.

The sobering projections highlight a critical gap in the Albanese government’s climate strategy, with Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen acknowledging that “additional work” is urgently needed to bridge the difference. The shortfall represents one of the largest policy gaps in Australia’s climate commitments, suggesting that without substantial new initiatives, the country will miss its target “by a country mile,” as critics have characterized it.

This emissions projection comes at a crucial time for Australia’s climate credibility, as the nation faces increasing international pressure to accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels. The significant gap between current policy trajectory and stated goals indicates that existing measures—while showing some progress—are insufficient to meet the scale of reduction required for Australia to align with global climate objectives.

The revelation underscores the urgent need for the government to implement more aggressive climate policies, potentially including expanded renewable energy programs, stricter emissions standards, and accelerated phase-outs of high-polluting industries. Without such measures, Australia risks undermining its international climate commitments and falling behind other nations in the global transition to clean energy.