Australia can do better!
Our 2035 target is not strong enough.
The government’s 2035 target has a range of 62-70%.
This will leave us exposed to more dangerous heat, floods, cyclones and sea level rise, with impacts affecting the most vulnerable disproportionately.
Sixty scientists and researchers have written to our government to say:
“We are dismayed that the target announced by the Federal Government last week – a reduction of between 62 and 70% below 2005 levels by 2035 – fails to meet this promise to deliver the highest possible ambition. These are not targets that reflect the scientific consensus on Australia’s fair contribution to global ambition required to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.”
National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA)
The NCRA paints a picture “of a profoundly altered Australia and its dire warnings demand an emergency response”.
- Heat-related mortality will rise by 444% in Sydney and 423% in Darwin.
- Marine heatwave duration will increase by 161+ days/year (now 18 days on average).
- Up to 34% of coastal communities (more than 3 million people) could be at high or very high risk from regular coastal flooding, erosion and inundation.
- Disaster recovery funding could cost 7.2 times more than it does now.
Join us in asking our government to raise ambition – to exceed 70% by 2035 and start acting now!
Australia can do better - more action, less risk
Australia’s low 62-75% 2035 emissions reduction target is not in line with the science, and will expose Australians to increasing heatwaves, cyclones, bushfires and sea level rise, and will also impact the safety and security of our Pacific neighbours.
We have to move well past a minimum of 75%, which has been seen as feasible and advantageous in credible modelling by diverse groups including:
- Business for 75%: GDP 227bn higher, exports 190bn higher and 45,000 more jobs/pa compared to a 65% 2035 level
- Climate Analytics with a full sectoral pathway analysis for 81% 2035 target (without the land clearing accounting this amounts to only 65%)
- Climate Council (2024): A detailed sector plan to reduce Australia’s emission 75% by 2030
Superpower Institute: we can benefit greatly from a transition to green exports: huge renewable resources, mineral resources including critical minerals and good infrastructure – limited initial support would bring a boost to regional jobs, and “a continuing boost to productivity and prosperity”. The Australia Institute states that a green export transition will also contribute to Australia’s domestic emissions reduction because fossil export processing makes up 18% of our domestic emissions.
Weak targets put us in harm’s way
Lighter Footprints is highlighting the findings of a powerful report from the Climate Council.
- A stronger 2035 climate target will keep Australians safer.
A weaker target risks more disasters, more damage and more danger. - The Climate Council states that to have a strong chance of Australia doing its part to hold global warming below 2°C – the upper threshold to avoid the worst climate impacts – we must reach net zero by 2035.
- A strong 2035 target will protect Australians from climate harm, open vast economic opportunities in clean industries, and enhance our regional security.
Click on the image to enlarge
Take action for more ambition now!
Your voice matters.
Take these simple steps for a safer climate future.
Step 1:
We can do better: send a short email before you call
Sending a short email before calling greatly improves your chance of having a good conversation with a staffer and having your message being noted down.
You can use our four point email below or check out this resource for a few more ideas!
Short emails and contacts here!
Take a few minutes to send an email before you call – it makes all the difference.
You can use this example or use our short email resource for more ideas.
Email example
Dear Minister Bowen or Senator Ananda-Rajah, or your nearest Labor MP
I will be calling you soon to follow up these concerns.
Sincerely,
Your name and contacts
MP Contacts
- Chris Bowen: 02 6277 7120 chris.bowen.mp@aph.gov.au
- Michelle Ananda-Rajah: 03 9822 4422 senator.ananda-rajah@aph.gov.au
- Carina Garland: 03 9808 3188 Carina.Garland.MP@aph.gov.au
- Gabriel Ng: 03 9848 9900 Gabriel.Ng.MP@aph.gov.au
- Matt Greg: 03 7066 7599 Matthew.Gregg.MP@aph.gov.au
- Josh Burns: 03 9534 8126 Josh.Burns.MP@aph.gov.au
Step 2:
Call your nearest Labor MP
Got five minutes? Check out the talking points and contacts below and ring your nearest Labor MP!
Talking points and contacts here!
Tell your story of why you are concerned about the recent 2035 targets decision.
“Our targets are too weak, but we could aim higher and act faster”
Your voice is powerful! Take 5 minutes to ring your nearest Labor MP!
Read the talking points below, then call – you can check substantiating references here.
Talking points
“I am calling you to express my disappointment about the recent 2035 target of 62-70%
- A target of only 75% is aligned with a world that is over 2°C warming. Climate scientists state that breaking 2°C risks escalating tipping points and cause an existential threat to our world.
- Faster action will lay the foundation for a stronger economy and reduce climate damage.
- The cost of cutting climate pollution is dramatically less than the cost of unchecked climate change.
- Weak targets are not a neutral choice, they are a commitment to escalating climate disasters and harm.
I am expecting that you aim much higher than 70% and start acting as soon as possible!
I am ringing you because of my particular perspective [concerned young person, grandparent, parent, my profession…]
Please record my name and contacts”
Contacts
- Chris Bowen: 02 6277 7120
- Michelle Ananda-Rajah: 03 9822 4422
- Carina Garland: 03 9808 3188
- Gabriel Ng: 03 9848 9900
- Matt Greg: 03 7066 7599
- Josh Burns: 03 9534 8126
Feedback
We would love your feedback about your call – you can leave a comment on Lighter Footprints Facebook climate ambition posts or email convenor@lighterfootprints.org
Step 3:
Join our Climate Action Team
Acting together we can achieve strong results for our community.
Join our Climate Action Team on our Take Action page!
Climate change is here now – acting later is too late
It’s getting hotter
Our current efforts to cut climate pollution are dangerously inadequate
We live under a blanket of heat trapping gases formed from burning coal, oil and gas that has raised temperatures by 1.3°C.
- This extra heat is driving extreme weather – more damaging heat waves, bushfires, storms and floods
- Every fraction of a degree matters – the differences between 1.5°C and 2°C are vast
- Past and current governments have failed to stop expanding more coal and gas, and current measures are too slow
- The severity of the crisis and how we cope depends on measures we take now (EY, p.9)
We are living with costly climate consequences now
Climate crises are escalating and are disrupting our lives now
Bushfires, floods and tropical storms impact housing, food prices and insurance premiums. Fast action will significantly reduce economic impacts, particularly in the Asia Pacific.
- The 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires destroyed 3,000 homes and cost $10 billion
- Insuring homes and businesses against extreme weather events is often already unaffordable or unavailable
- Reduced profitability in our agricultural sector, broad- acre farms have seen profits reduced by 22% since 2000 and cropping now has a loss of $1.1 billion per year
- Unprecedented marine heatwaves in 2025 has devastated coral reefs in WA and QLD and caused a deadly algal bloom is SA waters
We need strong science based targets
Weak targets head Australia to a 3°C world, massively increasing risks
Global governments, business and scientists all agree that holding global warming well below 2°C is vital to prevent massive disruption to the global climate system.
- Australia has a far higher level of per-capita emissions and we were late to tackling our climate pollution, so a science-aligned reduction curve is very steep
- The only science-aligned target available to Australia now is net zero by 2035, and 62-70% is massively inadequate
- Australia has already passed the opportunity for a doable 1.5C aligned target.
- The faster we act, the better our chance of shielding Australians from escalating climate harm
Tipping points
Climate Council: “We are currently heading towards a Hothouse Earth and catastrophic climate impacts that could cause widespread destruction and chaos.”
“A growing body of research warns that the Earth System contains ‘tipping elements’, where slowly increasing pressure can cause an element to cross a critical threshold, leading to sometimes abrupt, non-linear and often irreversible changes.”
The risk of a “global tipping points cascade” rises as we approach and then rises sharply as we pass 2°C warming.
A 2019 review from senior climate scientists emphasises the interconnected nature of tipping points which could cascade, with some tipping points already probably past tipping points, while others are likely to occur between 1.5-2.0°C – the rate of impact will be slowed if we act rapidly.
Protecting Australians from Climate Risks
62% -70% by 2035 puts us in harms way – we have to raise our ambition
Every fraction of a degree matters. At 2°C risks for heat, species loss and risks for crop yields double or treble. The Climate Council states “Australia at 3°C of global heating would be unrecognisable.”
Recent Climate Council research (pp. 7-8) states:
- An Australian 2035 target of – 65% puts the world on track for 2.4°C: “a 2/3 chance of limiting global heating to 2.4 C”
- An Australian 2035 target of -75% puts the world on track to breach 2°C: “more than 2°C but likely less than 2.3°C”
Costs of inaction could be 14% of GDP by 2050
Delaying action on climate could expose Australia to massive costs – up to one seventh of GDP by 2050 according a new report from 41 central banks including the Bank of England & European Central Bank: “Under current policies, we can expect a per annum $147 billion reduction to GDP by 2030. By 2040, the hit to GDP more than doubles to $350 billion before continuing to grow to $656 billion by 2050. Living standards are also impacted.”
Driving economic benefits
Dealing with climate change avoids huge costs of inaction and supercharges new opportunities
Australia should lead the way with our 2035 climate target driving a global commitment to end climate pollution and allow our clean industries to create well paid jobs and export income.
- As the sunniest country in the world and one of the windiest Australia is forecast to have world’s third cheapest renewable power by 2030
- Australia’s clean exports potential is eight times greater than our combined annual coal and LNG export revenues
- Ask the government to accelerate development of industries such as sustainable fuels, green steel and iron and aluminum, critical minerals processing and green hydrogen
- The policy certainty of a strong 2035 target in Australia would have delivered increased investment in Australia in clean energy and industries – acting faster will help.
International credibility
Australia would prefer to remain the security partner of choice for our Pacific neighbours but that position is highly contested.
Pacific nations will look closely at our climate targets. The Climate Council states: “The strongest possible target would protect Australians, build economic resilience, and align us with our international obligations.”
- Climate change, causing the triple whammy of seal level rise, ocean warming and acidification, is the number one security concern of Pacific Island Nations
- A strong climate target is important to build Australia’s credibility with the Pacific, our strategically important geopolitical backyard
- As Australia aspires to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific, only a strong 2035 target gives this aspiration credibility
The choices we make today will shape the climate future of every Australian
Australia’s 2035 Climate Target is too weak
Every fraction of a degree of warming makes our world more unsafe.
Weak targets are not a neutral choice, they are a commitment to escalating climate disasters and harm.
Let Minister Bowen and Labor MPs know that you expect more ambition and faster action
Click on the image to enlarge
Thank you for stepping up!
A problem – our politicians are still approving new coal and gas
Even though Australia has world leading solar and wind resources, and massive potential for renewables-led exports, our government still is promoting gas expansion. Currently, including exports, Australia contributes a whopping 4.5% of global emissions, continuing to damage our climate.
- Accelerating climate action would set Australia up to be a clean energy superpower, transforming manufacturing and exports.
- Australia is vulnerable to increasing climate damage from fires, droughts and floods, according to the latest State of the Climate CSIRO report.
Moving to clean energy will lower costs, increase our resilience, and protect our future.
Supporting climate ambition
In an age of government climate minimalism, how can the cross bench help raise climate ambition? Listen to an inside view on climate policy, advocacy and effective community representation.
Further Information
Climate Council
- Stronger Target, Safer Future report summary
- Stronger Target, Safer Future report
United Nations
- UNDPP article on increasing climate impacts and optimising action pathways
Key science papers
- Steffen et al. 2018 PNAS “Hothouse Earth” paper – landmark research exploring the trajectory of the Earth System towards an ‘inhospitable’ future without intervention.
- Lenton T M, Rockström J, Gaffney M, Rahmstorf S, Richardson K, Steffen W, Schellnhuber H J (2019) Climate tipping points – too risky to bet against. Nature.
Lighter Footprints information
Higher Ambition for 2035 campaign resources
- Talking points and contacts for calling MPs
- “Betrayal”: Our reaction to the NW Shelf approval, National Climate Risk Assessment and inadequate 2035 targets
- Big ideas blog – doing what has to be done
Climate Science
- Short video: eminent scientist Prof David Karoly on need for action
- Climate science 101: short video with Jenny Smithers
Energy and electrification
- We can do this! Richard Denniss, The Australia Institute, gives us a rousing call to move faster towards clean energy.
- Health benefits of getting off gas – Dr Genevieve Cowie video highlights
- Entertaining short video on electrification with home energy expert Tim Forcey
Sign up to our newsletter
to receive news and updates about effective local climate action