International climate change commitments

Australia is playing its part in the global challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia is party to the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement came into force in 2016. It builds on ongoing international efforts to address climate change under the:

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Kyoto Protocol

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

Under the Paris Agreement, Australia must submit emissions reduction commitments known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Australia first communicated its NDC in 2015, committing to an ambitious economy-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Australia recommunicated its NDC in 2020, affirming Australia’s 2030 target and outlining Australia’s practical, technology-focused approach to driving emission reductions, including new action and measures undertaken since 2015.

Australia will submit its next NDC, with a post–2030 target, to the UNFCCC in 2025.

Meeting Australia’s obligations

Our department works with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Agriculture, Water and Energy to negotiate and meet Australia’s obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Our role includes:

• leading negotiations for Australia on land sector and transparency issues 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
• managing a number of domestic policies that support Australia meeting its targets
• facilitating industry and private sector collaboration as a member of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition and Mission Innovation

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-Singapore Low Emissions Memorandum of Understanding

Our department is delivering a MoU with Singapore to advance cooperation on low emissions technologies and solutions. This agreement builds on Australia and Singapore’s comprehensive strategic partnership and demonstrates our shared ambition to drive low-emissions solutions to support an effective global climate change response.

The MoU will support the development and uptake of new and emerging low emissions technologies with practical collaboration on:

• hydrogen
• carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS)
• renewable energy trade
• measurement
• reporting and verification (MRV) of emissions.

Read more

• Read about Australia’s domestic actions for climate change
• Read the 2017 review of the Australian Government’s climate change policies

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.