Australia is playing its part in the global challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Paris Agreement
Australia is party to the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement came into force in 2016. It was a major step forward in international efforts to address climate change. Other international treaties are the:
The Paris Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by:
- holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
- pursuing efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Nationally Determined Contributions
Under the Paris Agreement, Australia must submit emissions reduction commitments known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Australia submitted its first NDC to the UNFCC in 2015. We submitted an updated version of this NDC in 2022. The update commits Australia to reducing its emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.
See Australia's NDC on the UNFCCC registry.
Australia will submit its second NDC to the UNFCCC in 2025.
Action from Australia
We work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to negotiate and meet Australia’s obligations under the Paris Agreement.
Our role includes:
- leading negotiations for Australia in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, including in relation to Australia's greenhouse gas inventories, emission projections and tracking progress to targets
- reporting Australia's emissions, climate change policies, and progress towards its targets to the UNFCCC
- approving participation in Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation projects under the Kyoto Protocol
- administering a number of aid projects providing support for developing countries
- supporting climate action in the Indo-Pacific region
- managing a number of domestic policies that support Australia meeting its targets, including Article 7, which establishes the global goal on adaptation
- facilitating industry and private sector collaboration as a member of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition and Mission Innovation
- collaborating with New Zealand (PDF 199 KB | DOCX 28 KB) to identify opportunities on climate action to navigate a successful transition to net zero.
We also participate in a range of multilateral forums and bilateral partnerships to promote Australia’s climate change interests. These partnerships strengthen the global response to climate change.
Australia's international clean energy partnerships
We’re working closely with international partners to advance practical action on climate change and build new clean energy industries. Partnerships are in place with Germany, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Learn more about Australia’s international clean energy partnerships.
Read more
- Read about Australia’s domestic actions for climate change
- Read the 2017 review of the Australian Government’s climate change policies
- Read about Australia’s international adaptation support and action.
See also
- Paris Agreement [2016] ATS 24 (entered into force for Australia 10 December 2016).
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change done in New York, 9 May 1992, [1994] ATS 2 (entered into force generally and for Australia 21 March 1994).
- Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, done in Kyoto, 11 December 1997, [2008] ATS 2 (entered into force for Australia 11 March 2008).
- Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, done in Doha, 8 December 2012, [2016] ATNIA 11, [2016] ATNIF 24.