But there was good news too. Changing the world is a big lift, and slowly but surely we are turning this enormous ship around – thanks to the tireless efforts of many individuals, communities, businesses and governments. 

Here are some of the biggest climate news stories this year that give us hope.

The seven biggest climate stories from Australia

2. For the first time, renewable energy overtook fossil fuels to power Australia’s main energy market. Clean energy in the National Energy Market (including every state and territory except Western Australia and Northern Territory), supplied a record 51% of electricity in October (and even went as high as 79% at one point on  11  October).

3. The new national battery rebate powered into action. In only six months the scheme has almost doubled Australia’s home battery capacity, and is on track to have helped 175,000 households and small businesses cut their power bills by the end of December. It’s now being expanded to help install two million household batteries by 2030.

4. Australia finally caught up with most of the world by implementing vehicle fuel efficiency standards – i.e stopping the most polluting cars from entering our market. These cleaner standards kicked into gear at the start of the year and will prevent 20 million tonnes of climate pollution by 2030. Meanwhile, the share of electric vehicles among new car sales in Australia has accelerated from 0.8% in 2020 to 12% in 2025.

5. Australia announced a new climate target (a commitment most countries have made to cooperate in cutting global pollution). The government has committed to cut pollution by 62-70% by 2035. To help achieve our new target, the government announced new programs to increase renewable generation, help industry decarbonise, roll out more EV chargers, and more.

6.  Australia’s nature laws have been strengthened for the first time in half a century. Thanks to a deal with the Greens, the new laws will strengthen protection for native forests and accelerate environmentally responsible renewable power. 

7. We didn’t win the bid to host the world’s largest climate conference (COP31) next year, but we did join a growing list of countries signing up to a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels. It’s the strongest language we’ve seen from the Australian Government yet about the need to switch away from fossil fuels.

The five biggest climate stories from around the world

1. For the first time, renewables provided more of the world electricity than coal, marking a turning point for the global power system. Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity, and so clean power is keeping pace with demand growth.

2. In a landmark case in July, the International Court of Justice ruled that all countries have a legal obligation to protect and prevent harm to the climate and can be held liable for climate change damage. While the court’s advisory opinions are non-binding, they can still have a powerful impact, both legally and politically. 

3. China’s carbon emissions have been flat or falling for the past 18 months, indicating the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter may reach peak emissions earlier than anticipated. This is attributed to China’s rapid increase in solar and wind generation, even with increasing demand for electricity.
   There was twice as much investment in renewable energy compared to fossil fuels. Globally, there is more investment than solar than there is in any other type of energy technology. 
   
4. South Korea has committed to phasing out most of its coal fired power plants by 2040. It operates the seventh largest coal fleet in the world but the share of coal generation has decreased from 42.5 per cent in 2015 to 30.5 per cent in 2024. As one the world’s top coal importers, and one of Australia’s largest coal customers, this signals a major shift for the industry. 
   

And that’s just the shortlist!

We’re looking forward to more good news in 2026.

The post 2025 wrapped: the best climate stories from Australia and the world appeared first on Climate Council.

Here in Australia, we are building out renewable power and storage at record rates, and they now make up more than 40% of our electricity in our main grid – and 36% across the country. We are far from alone in the global renewable rollout: in the first half of 2025, for the first time ever, the world made more power with renewables than from coal. In total, around 90 countries now make more than 35% of their power with renewables. 

Around the world, the “sun is rising on a clean energy age” with more than 9 out of 10 renewable power projects being cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.  Renewables will grow faster than any major energy source in the next decade, making the transition away from fossil fuels inevitable.

Learn more about the global progress on climate action.

Which countries have the most wind and solar power?

Australia, like many countries around the world, is relying mostly on a combination of wind, solar and storage (like batteries and pumped hydro) for its renewable power. Here’s the lowdown on the top 11 wind and solar-powered countries.

The world’s top wind- and solar-powered countries

*Australia refers to Australia’s main grid, the National Electricity Market (NEM). The NEM includes all states and territories except the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

1. Denmark

Denmark is one of the world’s renewable leaders, sourcing 88% of its power from renewable sources in 2024, and racing towards 100% by 2030. Wind alone provides 58% of the country’s power, thanks to more than 50 years of community leadership in wind projects. For nearly 15 years the Danish government has required all new wind projects to be at least 20% community owned. Now, more than half of Denmark’s wind generation capacity is owned by the community, helping to ensure its citizens benefit from the shift to renewables and building social licence for a rapid rollout.

2. Djibouti

In just five years, the Djibouti in northeast Africa has grown its renewable generation from nearly zero to 67% – its first wind farm opened in just 2023. Djibouti has a target to be the first country in Africa to reach 100% renewable by 2035. It is rolling out renewables as a national priority, to reduce power prices, support its industries to grow and increase its energy independence.

3. Lithuania

In recent years as the Russia-Ukraine war has impacted energy supply and prices worldwide, Lithuania has emerged as a renewable leader, ending its reliance on imported Russian fossil fuels in 2022. It has more than doubled its renewable generation since 2018 and is now more than 60% renewable, supported by a boom in rooftop solar. By 2030, Lithuania aims to shift from a net electricity importer to an exporter.

4. Luxembourg

Luxembourg, historically very reliant on fossil fuels, has been rapidly rolling out renewables as part of its plan to cut emissions by 55% by 2030. The country has already reached more than 60% wind and solar power, compared to just 9% a decade ago.

5. Portugal

Portugal is powered by more than 75% renewables, with 45% coming from wind and solar, and the majority of the remainder from hydro. Portugal’s solar generation is growing rapidly – it increased by 440% between 2017 and 2024! Portugal has been coal-free since 2021, and is working to phase down its gas use to reach 93% renewable by 2030. Portugal has a target to completely end gas generation by 2040.

6. The Netherlands

The Netherlands has halved its power sector emissions since 2018 thanks to rapid growth in both solar and wind power which now make up 45% of its power. The Netherlands’ position on the North Sea makes it ideal for offshore wind generation: it has a target to more than quadruple its offshore wind capacity from 5 GW today to 21 GW by 2032 – around 75%of its current electricity needs. Increasing its offshore wind and other renewable generation will enable the Netherlands to completely phase out coal by 2029. 

Want to know more about offshore wind? Read our explainer Australia and offshore wind.

7. Germany

Germany currently makes around 45% of its power from renewable resources, and has targets to grow to 80% renewable by 2030, and 100% by 2035. Germany is a leader in offshore wind, and is also installing solar at record rates: on average, Germany has been installing more than 100,000 solar panels every day!

8. Spain

Spain currently makes around 43% of its electricity from wind and solar, and another 11% from hydro. In 2024, just 1% of Spain’s power came from coal, and its last mainland coal-fired generator is set to close in 2026. Spain plans to reach 81% renewable by 2030.

9. Ireland

Ireland became the sixth country in Europe to end coal generation in June 2025 thanks to impressive growth in its wind generation capacity in the past 25 years – from just 117 MW in 2000, to more than 5 GW now installed across the country. In total, around 40% of the country’s electricity comes from wind and solar.

10. Greece

With help from its abundant Mediterranean sunshine, Greece has more than doubled its renewable generation in the past decade. Renewables now make up 50% of its total generation, with nearly 40% from wind and solar. Like Australia, Greece has a target to reach 82% renewable by 2030. As part of this, Greece will end coal generation by 2026.

11. Mauritania

Mauritania is rapidly transforming its energy systems and economy: before 2008, the share of electricity produced from renewables was less than 1%. Now, it’s more than 50% renewable, with most of this coming from wind and solar, and is aiming to reach 70% by 2030. With fewer than 10% of rural Mauritanian households connected to electricity, renewables are a key part of the country’s goal of achieving universal access by the end of the decade.

The world’s biggest polluter, China, has also  become a renewable powerhouse. Find out how China is shaping the global shift to clean energy.

How does Australia’s shift to renewables compare with the rest of the world?

Australia currently ranks 12th place for the share of wind and solar in our main grid, despite being the sunniest and one of the windiest countries in the world. 

Since our first wind and solar projects started up in the 1980s, they have grown to make up 36% of our main grid, and a further 6% of our power comes from hydro. Rooftop solar is where we really shine: one in three households have panels on their roof, more than anywhere else in the world. Rooftop solar alone makes up 13% of our power! We are also in the midst of a battery boom, with more than one million household batteries expected to be installed between now and 2030 to soak up all the excess solar power from our rooftops. These community-owned energy systems are cutting climate pollution and slashing power bills at the same time – homes with solar and battery can save more than $2,000 every year on average.

We can learn from the successes around the world to make the most of our abundant renewable resources and ramp up our ambition even further to roll out more reliable, affordable clean power.

Learn more about how renewables are the cheapest form of energy for Australia.

How are renewables impacting power bills around the world?

The International Energy Agency has found that reaching net zero by 2050 will lead to a clear decline in total household energy bills (including power, gas and fuel) in advanced economies like Australia.

While power prices are complex and depend on many factors – not just the source of power –  countries around the world are showing that renewables put downward pressure on power bills. For example:

• In Ireland, research has found that wind and solar farms have saved Irish homes and businesses €840 million since 2000 (nearly AUD $1.5 billion). Ireland has a target to reach 80% renewable by 2030, which could cut consumer bills by an additional €610 million (more than AUD $1 billion). 
  
• In Spain between 2021 and 2024, as renewable generation increased by 20%, wholesale power prices dropped by nearly 20%. 
  
• In the United Kingdom, wind power saved homes and businesses £104.3 billion (more than AU$2 billion) between 2010 and 2023, due to its direct impact on electricity prices as well as reduced gas prices due to lower gas demand.

Have any countries reached 100% renewable?

Several countries including Costa Rica, Nepal, Albania, Ethiopia, Iceland and Norway have already reached, or come very close to, 100% renewable power. 

These countries have unique resources compared to other parts of the world, and are able to make significant amounts of power using traditional technologies like hydro and geothermal generation. However, other countries relying more on wind and solar are quickly catching up, like Denmark and Estonia which aim to be 100% renewable by 2030.

For example, Iceland – the “land of fire and ice” – has built a 100% renewable power system using hydro and geothermal resources. Iceland is making the most of the glaciers which cover 11% of the country, and its location on the volcanic Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland started its renewable journey back in the 1970s as a way of reducing its reliance on expensive imported fossil fuels, and hasn’t looked back! Thanks to its abundant renewable power, Iceland citizens pay “almost nothing” for their electricity.

Want to see Australia in the top 10? Chip in today to keep climate change in the headlines and push for urgent action.

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Here are eight key things to know about data centres and what they mean for Australia and our shift to renewables.

1. What are data centres?

Data centres are buildings that run all day, every day, to process, store, and manage digital data. They include equipment like servers, routers, switches, firewalls, and storage systems. They can range in size from small sites under 500 square metres, to massive “hyperscale” centres more than 100,000 square metres.

2. How many data centres are in Australia?

There are already more than 250 data centres in Australia. Despite our relatively small population, we are in the top five locations for data centres in the world. They’re usually near major cities, so they can be easily connected to the electricity grid and to the businesses and government agencies that rely on them. 

3. How much energy does a data centre use?

Like their physical size, the energy needs of data centres vary greatly. Typical data centres are around 5-10 megawatts (MW) in size (NB 1 MW is enough to power around 300 homes). or use about as much energy as around 3000 houses. Emerging “hyperscale” data centres can be more than 100 MW, needing as much electricity as a small city. In total, Australia’s data centres currently use just over 2% of the power in our main grid, and this is expected to grow to around 6 per cent by 2030 as AI and cloud computing grow.

Data centre energy demand is forecast to grow nearly 5x over the next decade

4. How much climate pollution does a data centre create?

Most of the climate pollution from data centres comes from the electricity they use, and along their supply chains. The emissions from energy use depend on a centre’s size, location, and energy efficiency. For example, a data centre in a state with a high share of renewables like Tasmania, the ACT or South Australia, will generally have lower emissions than one in states that rely more on coal and gas. Some data centres are also cutting their climate pollution (and their power bills) by making or purchasing clean power. 

5. How can data centres reduce their energy use and climate pollution?

There are many ways that data centres can cut climate pollution, and many are already being adopted in Australia. Many data centre operators in Australia have committed to 100% renewable energy by 2030. Actions they are taking include:

• Directly buying clean power through power purchase agreements (PPAs). 
• Co-locating centres with renewable generation and big batteries, to reduce their energy costs and increase energy security while cutting climate pollution. 
• Supporting the construction of large wind and solar farms to power data centre operations. 
• Installing or upgrading equipment to improve energy efficiency.

Elsewhere around the world, data centres are:

• Shifting non-time sensitive tasks to times when large amounts of power are available, to help reduce strain on the grid.
• Using the heat they create to warm homes and businesses, much like many parts of the world already do with geothermal heat. 

6. How can data centres help reduce climate pollution in other sectors?

AI and data centres have many existing and emerging applications that can help reduce emissions. For example, AI is already being used around the world to:

• detect leaks in oil and gas projects to cut pollution
• make manufacturing processes more efficient
• drive precision agriculture to reduce fertiliser, pesticide and water use while boosting productivity
• optimise energy use in buildings – for example, smarter heating and cooling can cut energy use by around 10 per cent.

Here in Australia, AI-integrated 3D concrete printing is being pioneered to help increase the environmental sustainability of the construction industry, and provide solutions for the housing crisis. The technology can cut construction waste by 60 per cent, production time by 70 per cent and labour costs by 80 per cent. In 2025, the first 3D-printed multi-storey house in the southern hemisphere was built in Melbourne in just five weeks.

7. What are the other environmental impacts of data centres?

Data centres generate a lot of heat and need huge amounts of water for cooling. A small one-megawatt data centre using traditional cooling methods can use around 26 million litres of water a year – enough for more than 150 average Australian homes. As southern Australia experiences one of its most severe droughts to date, water resources will become even more limited in some parts of the country in coming years under the changing climate. It’s critical that we manage the growth in data centres without placing extra strain on water supplies. 

For example, we should ensure data centres are located in areas with sufficient water supply and infrastructure, and adopt systems that recover, treat and reuse water. New technologies are emerging too. In China, there is already one commercial-scale underwater data centre, and more are being built – using seawater for cooling rather than valuable freshwater. Roughly 40 percent of the electricity consumed by a typical data centre is for cooling – so innovative approaches like this are a win-win.

Data centres can also require significant amounts of land, can create noise pollution which impacts nearby communities and animals, and electronic waste that needs to be appropriately managed at its end of life.

8. How are we going to power the growing number of data centres?

As Australia electrifies homes, businesses, and vehicles, energy demand is rising. The rapid growth of data centres will place extra pressure on our grid.  We have a timely opportunity to develop data centres in ways that support our shift to renewables – attracting investment in new clean power projects and cutting climate pollution across the economy. 

Work is already underway: key energy bodies including the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) are factoring data centre demand into future grid planning and market rules. The Australian Government is developing a new national data centre strategy, and already requires the data centres it uses to host government data to meet strong energy efficiency standards. Governments are major data centre customers, and these requirements set important expectations for the entire industry. Growing pressure from businesses, investors and the community to improve Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards is reinforcing this trend. But further coordination and leadership is needed to ensure data centres are powered by renewables and reduce their impacts on the grid.

Data centres are essential for Australia’s growing digital economy, but the industry must grow in ways that align with our clean-energy future. With smart policy, industry leadership, and lessons from global best practice, Australia can harness the benefits of data centres while accelerating the shift to renewables.

The post What does the data centre boom mean for Australia’s switch to renewables? appeared first on Climate Council.

Importantly, countries agreed to work together to hold ‘the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels’ and pursue efforts ‘to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.’

Every national government must now establish a clear plan to reach net zero emissions with regularly updated targets to cut climate pollution.

As governments converge once more at the United Nations Climate Conference, this time, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, some are asking what have we achieved to combat climate change? 

The past three years have been the hottest on record, climate disasters have slammed every continent this year and climate pollution from coal, oil and gas continues to rise.  

10 years after Paris, it’s worth taking stock of where we are at, how much the world has achieved, and the task ahead.  

We’ve made substantial progress in the global shift to clean energy

Pollution from coal, oil and gas continues to rise, but much more slowly

In 2023, the international community agreed to switch away from fossil fuels, finally formally acknowledging the contribution of coal, oil and gas to global warming.

This agreement was labelled the ‘beginning of the end’ for fossil fuels globally. While we still have a long way to go, the global energy mix is shifting away from coal, oil and gas:

• Global emissions are slowing: the latest data shows that we are burning more fossil fuels than ever and emissions continue to climb, but the rate of growth has dropped from 2% per year to 0.6% per year. 
• The world’s biggest polluter’s emissions have peaked: China’s emissions are already peaking, five years ahead of previous projections.
• Countries are phasing out coal: this year, Ireland became the eighth country to phase out coal generation since the Paris Agreement was signed. Many more have committed to becoming coal-free over the coming years, including nearly the entire European Union.
• More countries are committing to get off coal, oil and gas: Pacific Island Nations are leading a diplomatic campaign for a global phase out of coal, oil and gas, calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. In addition, 62 countries led by the UK and Canada have pledged to phase out unabated coal generation completely through the Powering Past Coal Alliance.

Clean energy is transforming the world

The global energy transformation is gathering speed: low-emissions energy sources (including wind, solar, hydropower and nuclear) now generate more than 40% of the world’s electricity, compared to 33% in 2015. 

Clean energy is smashing records:

• 2025 saw a significant milestone: in the first six months of 2025 the world generated more power from solar and wind than from coal.
• Record-breaking renewable rollout: Global renewable electricity generation is expected to nearly double by 2030 – enough new renewable generation to meet the combined power demand of China and the US.
• Solar is booming: ​​It took eight years for the world’s solar capacity to go from 100 TWh to 1,000 TWh, then just three years to double to 2,000 TWh. Solar prices have dropped 66% in the past decade, becoming the cheapest form of power in history.
• Investment in clean energy has increased 10x: Investment in clean energy has grown from around US$230 billion in 2013, to $2.2 trillion in 2025 (equivalent to AU $3.4 trillion – twice as much as global investment in coal, oil and gas). 
• China: The world’s biggest polluter, China, is transforming into a clean energy juggernaut. 
• Cleaning up transport: One in five cars sold worldwide is now electric, compared to just 1% in 2015.

Read more in our report Power Shift: The US, China and the Race to Net Zero

Net zero is the global minimum

When the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 no countries had formal net zero targets. Now, 

83% of the global economy has a net zero target. Analysis shows that climate targets are becoming more robust over time, covering more sectors and gases. The majority of countries also have targets to increase renewable generation.

The Paris Agreement aims to reach peak global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, reaching net zero by the second half of this century. If all countries follow through on their commitments, global emissions are expected to peak by 2030. However, to limit global heating to 1.5°C without overshoot, global climate pollution needed to peak this year, at the latest, and fall by 43% on 2019 levels by 2030. 

But global temperature is rising, and so are the impacts

We are already living in a hotter and more dangerous world, fuelled by climate pollution from coal, oil and gas. Today we are at 1.3°C of global warming, and the past three years have been the hottest on record. 

In 2015, the world was on a catastrophic path to an average global temperature increase of 4°C by the end of this century. Now, according to the latest official data, we are tracking towards 2.3 – 2.5°C, if countries reach their targets. 

This is a more dangerous future, and still falls far short of what is needed. Global warming of 1.5°C is considered the upper limit of what vulnerable communities, coral reefs, and many ecosystems can withstand. Science is clear that crossing the 1.5°C threshold increases the risk of triggering irreversible and cascading climate impacts. Transformative action, delivered urgently, is needed to limit how much and for how long we overshoot this threshold, and to bring temperatures back down to safer levels.

The only way to do so is by cutting pollution from coal, oil and gas further and faster than we are today, in all the places we can do so.

With almost half the world’s population already vulnerable to the effects of climate change, global work to adapt, build resilience and deal with loss and damage caused by climate-driven disasters is critical. The Paris Agreement set a Global Goal on Adaptation to increase countries’ efforts to prepare for and manage the impacts of climate disasters. In 2023 countries agreed to an adaptation framework, and a key focus of COP30 in Belém is to establish indicators to measure this progress.

The international community has also established a new Loss and Damage fund, and as of June this year, 27 countries had pledged more than AU$1.2 billion. This represents a small fraction of the estimated economic costs of climate change-induced loss and damage in developing countries of up to $AU800 billion in 2030, rising to up to 2.6 trillion by 2050.

We need to do so much more – and Australia has a key role to play

Australia is a major climate polluter: we are the world’s 10th largest polluter on a per person basis, and one of the largest fossil fuel exporters. So we have an important role to play at home, and abroad. With the right policies, Australia can contribute to global goals while growing our own economy and creating skilled jobs. 

Powering past our climate targets

Under the Paris Agreement, the Albanese Government has pledged to cut climate pollution 43% by 2030, 62-70% below 2005 levels by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. 

Our analysis shows we can, and should, be doing much more to keep Australians safer. Read more about our analysis of Australia’s target and temperature rise scenarios

To keep Australians safer from worsening climate harm, and unlock Australia’s economic opportunity, the Australian Government should put in place policies to not just meet a 70% reduction, but power past it. 

Growing green export industries

Australia also has a significant opportunity in the global shift to renewables. By making use of our abundant renewable resources and critical minerals we can support global decarbonisation while boosting our own economy and creating skilled jobs in future-focused export industries. Australia’s green export opportunity could create over 400,000 jobs by 2040, growing the economy by $100 billion per year. 

Phasing out fossil fuels

We must also deal with polluting fossil fuels. We can start by stopping approvals of new and expanded fossil fuel projects. At the moment our environment law doesn’t include any mechanism to consider the climate impacts of such projects on our environment.

The Government has approved seven coal and gas projects this year alone, and 32 since forming government in 2022. Another 42 are waiting to be assessed.

The Albanese Government can still deliver credible environment laws that protect the places we love from climate harm, and don’t undermine our climate laws and policies.

Find out how Australia’s national environment law measures up on climate, and how we can fix this.

The post Ten years of the Paris Agreement: what have we achieved? appeared first on Climate Council.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit increasingly strong targets every five years, enabling them to “ratchet up” (or ramp up) their effort over time to cut climate pollution. 

National targets need to be backed by plans and policies to allow those planned reductions to be achieved. 

This year marks a critical moment for our climate future. Under the Paris Agreement, nations are required to submit new 2035 climate targets. Collectively, these targets must slash global climate pollution fast enough to keep temperatures within internationally agreed limits designed to prevent catastrophic harm to people and ecosystems.

The central goal of the Paris Agreement is “holding the increase in the global average  temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursuing efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

Australia’s 2035 climate target is an opportunity to set Australia on the right path, one which keeps our kids safer from the impacts of climate change and sets our economy up for success in a fossil fuel-free world. Climate Council’s report, Stronger Target, Safer Future: Why Australia’s 2035 Climate Target Matters, provides a framework for setting the strongest possible targets.

Securing a safer future means hitting the brakes on accelerating climate change

Climate science is clear: humanity is now releasing huge volumes of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, primarily from the burning of coal, oil, and gas. This layer of gas acts like a blanket, trapping more heat every year. That heat fuels worsening extreme weather events and is dramatically damaging the ecological systems that sustain human life. In other words, we are living through a climate crisis.

In the future, the scale and severity of the climate crisis will depend on:

• How quickly we cut climate pollution; and 
• How much global temperatures rise as a result.

Every fraction of a degree of global temperature rise leads to more frequent and ferocious extreme weather events, ecosystem damage, and impacts on lives around the world. On the other hand, avoiding even a fraction of a degree of global heating is extremely significant in reducing risks to communities worldwide. 

Global average temperature rise is now 1.3°C above the pre-industrial average and, in 2024, global average temperatures hit 1.6°C over a full year, breaking through 1.5°C for the first time. Importantly, these temperature thresholds cannot be breached in a single year – climate science, and the Paris Agreement, take a longer-term view of global average temperature over decades. But this is a clear warning sign that we are moving closer and closer to exceeding the 1.5°C temperature threshold. 

We are currently on a trajectory towards drastic global temperature rise and catastrophic climate impacts that could undermine the foundations of our society, prosperity, and security. Swift action to slash climate pollution from the burning of coal, oil and gas is the only solution which can protect those most vulnerable to the catastrophic impacts.

“Climate history is playing out before our eyes. We’ve had not just one or two record-breaking years, but a full 10-year series. This has been accompanied by devastating and extreme weather, rising sea levels and melting ice, all powered by record-breaking greenhouse gas levels due to human activities.” – WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. 

The rate of global warming is now 0.27°C per decade and, without urgent efforts to cut climate pollution, we will overshoot the Paris Agreement’s goal of holding warming well below 2ºC in less than two decades. Climate change is accelerating and the risks are escalating at a much quicker pace than we previously thought.

The UN’s latest assessment concluded that the “current national climate plans fall miles short of what’s needed to stop global heating from crippling every economy, and wrecking billions of lives and livelihoods across every country”. 

It is in this context that countries are required to submit their 2035 target under the Paris Agreement later this year.

What climate target should Australia commit to?

Australia will submit our new 2035 climate target, a Nationally Determined Contribution, under the Paris Agreement this year. The current target, to reduce Australia’s climate pollution 43% on 2005 levels by 2030, was legislated in 2022.

The Climate Change Authority has been charged with providing advice to the Australian Government on setting and achieving its 2035 target. This advice is expected to be shared imminently. In 2024, the Authority released an issues paper, ‘Targets, Pathways and Progress’, which considered a target range of 65-75% below 2005 levels by 2035.

In anticipation of this advice being provided to the Australian Government, Climate Council commissioned Climate Resource to assess the global warming implications of an Australian 2035 climate target. The analysis uses the latest emissions data and shows what an Australian target means for global average temperature risk.

This new analysis shows the only Australian target that’s compatible with holding global warming below 2°C is net zero by 2035. The closer the Australian Government’s 2035 climate target gets to net zero, the less climate risk Australians face. 

The analysis also shows that a 2035 climate target of -75% or more (on 2005 levels) is aligned with more than 2°C of global heating, but likely less than 2.3°C*. Weaker targets are aligned with even higher levels of global heating. Each fraction of a degree of global heating is associated with more catastrophic impacts to communities and ecosystems. A -65% target is aligned with below 2.4°C of global heating.

The Australian Government must set the strongest possible 2035 climate target. A stronger target will keep Australians safer. A weaker target risks more disasters, more damage and more danger.

Climate consequences if the world fails to set strong targets

As our climate has warmed, Australia has been being hit hard. Where long-term global warming is currently about 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, Australia has warmed by an average of around 1.51°C since national records began in 1910.

This increase in temperature is fuelling more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including extreme heat, heavy rainfall, coastal inundation, dangerous bushfire weather and drought. Many communities have now experienced back-to-back disasters that would have previously been considered a 1-in-50 or 1-in-100 year weather event. 

The IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (IPCC 2018) shows the risks for both human and natural systems are lower if global temperature rise stabilises at 1.5°C. There are substantial increases in extreme weather events (e.g. extreme heat, heavy precipitation events and drought) between 1.5°C and 2°C. Impacts on land-based biodiversity and ecosystems are less at 1.5°C than 2°C, but overshooting the 1.5°C target could have irreversible impacts on some species and ecosystems. 

Climate change is accelerating, and current global efforts – including Australia’s – are dangerously inadequate. The future scale and severity of the climate crisis will depend on how quickly and deeply we slash global climate pollution. Each fraction of a degree of global heating is associated with more catastrophic impacts to communities and ecosystems.

For more information see our Stronger Target, Safer Future: Why Australia’s 2035 Climate Target Matters report.

Climate Council has launched a petition calling on the Australian Government to set the strongest possible 2035 climate target – and take urgent action to meet it!

*Assuming other countries adopt the same per-capita share of the global carbon budget.

The post What is the Paris Agreement and why does Australia need to set a Nationally Determined Contribution? appeared first on Climate Council.

The Albanese Labor Government’s imminent decision on Australia’s 2035 climate target will shape the lives of every Australian. Climate Council’s latest report, Stronger Target, Safer Future: Why Australia’s 2035 Climate Target Matters, warns the safety, security and prosperity of our communities and environment is at stake as the government finalises their decision.

The science is clear. To do our fair share to hold global warming to well below 2°C, Australia needs to reduce climate pollution to 75% below 2005 levels by 2030, and reach net zero by 2035. Every fraction of a degree of warming avoided matters. While some climate impacts are getting progressively worse, like heatwaves or bushfire risk, beyond 2°C scientists warn that we will see abrupt, irreversible changes or tipping points that supercharge global warming and cause widespread system collapse, like:

• The loss of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, leading to multi-metre sea level rise.
• Frozen soils in the Arctic melt, releasing vast quantities of heat-trapping gases. 
• The Amazon rainforest experiences massive dieback – where plants die off en masse – releasing huge volumes of heat-trapping gases.

Why is Australia setting a 2035 climate target?

The Paris Agreement, adopted by 195 countries in 2015, represents the world’s collective approach to tackling climate change. Under the agreement, nations submit targets to cut climate pollution – described as Nationally Determined Contributions – every five years, enabling them to ramp up efforts over time to cut climate pollution. Together, these targets chart a global pathway to slash climate pollution and prevent global temperatures from exceeding agreed limits.

Like countries world-wide, Australia is expected to submit our 2035 climate target this year. The current target, to reduce Australia’s climate pollution 43% on 2005 levels by 2030, was legislated in 2022

Australia’s 2035 climate target is an opportunity to set Australia on the right path, one which keeps our kids safer from climate change and sets our economy up for success in a fossil fuel-free world. 

What climate target should Australia commit to?

Climate Council commissioned Climate Resource to assess the global warming implications of an Australian 2035 climate target. The analysis uses the latest emissions data and shows what an Australian target means for global average temperature risk.

This new analysis shows the only Australian target that’s compatible with holding global warming below 2°C is net zero by 2035. The closer the Australian Government’s 2035 climate target gets to net zero, the less climate risk Australians face. 

The analysis also shows that a 2035 climate target to reduce pollution by 75% or more puts the world on track to heat by more than 2°C but likely less than by 2.3°C, if other countries adopt the same per capita share of the remaining global budget from 2024 onwards.

Weaker targets are aligned with even higher levels of global heating. Each fraction of a degree of global heating is associated with more catastrophic impacts to communities and ecosystems. A 2035 target to reduce pollution by 65% is aligned with below 2.4°C of global heating.

At the end of the day, the stronger the climate target, the safer Australians are from climate risks. On the other hand, the weaker the target, the more vulnerable we become.

What targets are possible for Australia to achieve over the next decade?

Several significant Australian-based research projects have demonstrated that deep cuts to climate pollution in the next 10 years are possible. 

• The CSIRO’s pathway to reduce emissions by 75% on 2005 levels by 2035 and reach net zero by 2040. Under this scenario, average real GDP growth from 2020 to 2050 would only be 0.03 percentage points lower than the net zero by 2050 scenario, a cost significantly less than the economic, social and health benefits of cutting emissions.
• ClimateWorks Centre’s decarbonisation modelling, which shows how Australia can reduce emissions by 85% by 2035, demonstrates that a stronger 2035 target is achievable. 
• Climate Council’s Seize the Decade report shows that, by going all-in on proven clean technology that’s already available, Australia could reach a 75% climate pollution cut this decade. This suggests much more is possible by 2035, with further time available for technology development, the rollout of solutions like batteries, electric vehicles and electrification, and the wider availability of zero-emissions fuels like green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels.

What changes would Australia need to make to deliver a strong 2035 climate target?

Achieving stronger climate targets will require more action across our economy to double down on what is already working, and build the clean industries of the future. Australian households and businesses will need to change the way they power themselves, make things, and get around. Australian governments will face changes to revenue sources as coal and gas exports decline, and new industries emerge. 

We’re already making progress in Australia, with existing policies and efforts projected to cut climate pollution by almost 43% on 2005 levels by 2030 – a 13 percentage point improvement from 2021 projections. Already, a 51% climate pollution cut is projected by 2035 just by implementing current policies.

To protect Australians from the consequences of the climate crisis, Australia can also consider tackling its global carbon footprint by:

• Developing clean industries that contribute to global pollution reduction. For example, by developing green metals, cathode and battery manufacturing, sustainable shipping and aviation fuels;
• Supporting developing countries in their transition through climate finance or other mechanisms; and 
• Reducing our exported climate pollution, particularly by not approving new fossil fuel projects.

In recent years, climate solutions have been delivered at a speed and scale that has surpassed expectations. The last decade has seen incredible progress, with the cost of many climate solutions reducing dramatically. The key lesson here is our ambitions should not be constrained by what we currently consider to be the limit of our clean energy potential. Just as progress in renewable electricity outstripped all expectations over the last decade, progress in industrial decarbonisation and harder-to-abate sectors can far exceed our current projections over the next. 

By aiming high we give ourselves the best opportunity at fulfilling our true potential. The climate crisis demands that we do everything we can, everywhere we can, as fast as we can.

Climate consequences if the world fails to set strong targets

As our climate has warmed, Australia has been hit hard. Where long-term global warming is currently about 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, Australia has warmed by an average of around 1.51°C since national records began in 1910.

This increase in temperature is fuelling more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including extreme heat, heavy rainfall, coastal inundation, dangerous bushfire weather and drought. Many communities have now experienced back-to-back disasters that would have previously been considered a 1-in-50 or 1-in-100 year weather event. 

Climate-driven extreme weather events in Australia are already becoming more frequent and intense, with devastating impacts. 

The future scale and severity of the climate crisis will depend on how quickly and deeply we slash global climate pollution. Each fraction of a degree of global heating is associated with more catastrophic impacts to communities and ecosystems.

For more information see our Stronger Target, Safer Future: Why Australia’s 2035 Climate Target Matters report.

Climate Council has launched a petition calling on the Australian Government to set the strongest possible 2035 climate target – and take urgent action to meet it!

The post Why Australia needs to set a strong climate target this year appeared first on Climate Council.

What began as a group of 27 Pacific Island law students is now a turning point that strengthens a struggling multilateral system for climate action. The Vanuatu government was also a driving force behind this first ever legal opinion on climate change. With these proceedings, we are seeing a familiar storyline play out in the international arena, one that the Pacific is all too familiar with – that if we want to survive the climate crisis, it is up to us to chart the path of least destruction. Whether or not the world follows our lead has differed over history.

Ten years ago, those of us present in Paris cried tears of resolve and pride when Republic of the Marshall Islands Foreign Minister, Tony De Brum, masterfully led the High Ambition Coalition to negotiate and secure what we now know as the Paris Agreement. The world then followed suit with their national emissions targets, some worthy of the phrase “climate action”, and some not. In 2022, Tuvalu became the first country to call for a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty, with 135 cities and subnational governments today backing that same call. Over the years, Pacific Island states have attempted to set high bars for climate ambition and prayed that those with the power to impact global emissions saw our survival as worth fighting for.

Today, this call-and-response is again at play for the Pacific. When we became aware of Australia’s intentions to host COP31 as an Australia-Pacific COP, we saw the opportunity to chart a path encouraging Australia’s climate leadership. But it has been no easy feat. When the Australian government signalled its addiction to gas expansion in Canberra last May, a group of Pacific Islanders took to parliament lawns calling for a renewable energy transition instead – both domestically and within the Pacific region. Climate Minister Chris Bowen’s recent visit to the Pacific indicated that Australia’s direction, at least in terms of a Pacific energy transition, could be looking positive. On this four-nation tour, Australia committed $16.4 million to upgrade Palau’s electricity network and shift to renewable energy. This includes the 15MW Palau Solar Farm, one of the Pacific’s largest solar power projects. However, President Surangel Whipps Jr of Palau has made it clear that a “Pacific COP” would require more than renewable energy investments. It would call on Australia to address its gas addiction and position as one of the top-three fossil fuel exporters in the world.

The issue of Australia’s coal and gas exports is the stain on Australia’s potential climate legacy. Even as Australia courts Pacific leaders in their bid for COP31, Environment Minister Murray Watt recently approved the extension of the Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant, one of the world’s biggest fossil gas projects, prolonging its life from 2030 to 2070. The extension is expected to be responsible for about 87.9m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent every year in the decades ahead. Acts of hypocrisy like this make it increasingly difficult to trust Australia as a partner to Pacific peoples, as continued fossil fuel exports exacerbate climate disasters across our islands.

So as we skate dangerously close to the 1.5 degree target set in Paris, we cannot allow the next five years to be where we lose our fight against the climate crisis. Australia’s current emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030 is woefully short of what’s required to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees, and predictions of its revised emissions target due this year are still unclear. As a potential COP host within this critical timeframe, Australia has the opportunity and responsibility to up its climate game significantly – but only by listening to Pacific co-hosts and following our lead.

We have dreams and pathways for a Pacific free from fossil fuels and climate catastrophe, and we are actively trying to secure the resources and relationships to make that a reality. We have employed everything at our disposal to realise this dream, from diplomacy to litigation to grassroots activism. It is clear that both history and international law are on our side. What remains to be seen is how Australia responds to the role they’ve been cast in the story of our survival.

Author: Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Deputy Head of Regions and founder of the Pacific Climate Warriors.

Photo: ABC News

The post An international court ruling, proof that the world can follow the Pacific’s lead on climate action appeared first on Climate Council.

Climate Council Preliminary Analysis, “Obligations of the States in Respect of Climate Council”.

The advice shows:

1. Countries have very strong obligations under international law to cut climate pollution and prevent significant harm to the global climate that sustains human life. 

The Court refers both to climate treaties and other bodies of international law.

2. Australia is obligated to set strong, science aligned climate targets.

The Court makes clear that it “considers the 1.5°C threshold to be the parties’ agreed primary temperature goal for limiting the global average temperature increase under the Paris Agreement.” It states that countries “Nationally Determined Contribution” (NDC),  which includes the 2035 climate target, must be in line with the Paris Agreement goal to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C. The advice further emphasises that each country must “do its utmost to ensure that the NDCs it puts forward represent its highest possible ambition in order to realize the objectives of the [Paris] Agreement.” 

Yesterday, the Climate Council released the latest scientific data showing that this goal is almost out of reach for Australia due to a decade of delayed action (2013-2022). That research shows net zero by 2035 is the only climate target available to Australia with a strong chance of contributing to holding global warming below 2°C.  However, the Court makes clear that to be aligned with Paris obligations a country’s actions should be consistent with holding warming to 1.5°C. Therefore Australia may be obligated to contribute to global efforts to slash climate pollution as well as take steps at home – for instance building new industries (e.g. green iron) and preventing new fossil fuel projects.

The Federal Government has accelerated climate action in the last three years, including reaching 43% renewable power in Australia’s main grid. The action must now be strengthened to meet our international obligations.

The Australian Government is expected to make its decision on Australia’s 2035 climate target in the coming months. The Court’s advice makes clear that a target should be as strong as possible and accompanied by plans and policies to implement that target. It can further be argued that, to comply with international law, this judgement requires Australia to both set a strong national target and take action on exported emissions to help hold global heating to 1.5°C.

3. On-going production, consumption and granting of licenses and subsidies for fossil fuels could constitute wrongful acts under international law. Wrongful acts may trigger obligations to compensate other countries suffering from climate harm. 

The Court states that: “What constitutes a wrongful act is not the emissions in and of themselves, but actions or omissions causing significant harm to the climate system in breach of a state’s international obligations.”

The Federal Government has argued that Australia is not responsible for the emissions from Australia’s vast exports of coal and gas. The Court disagrees. Australia is one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels, therefore there is a strong case that ongoing support and expansion of Australia’s export industry constitutes “significant harm to the climate system”.

The Court finds that individual countries can still be found responsible, even if it is hard to identify a specific share of harm they have caused. The Court notes that it is “scientifically possible to determine each State’s total contribution to global emissions, taking into account both historical and current emissions.” 

Given Australia has consistently been one of the highest per capita polluters in the world and one of the world’s most prolific fossil fuel exporters, it can also be argued that Australia’s relative share of harm is significant. This will also likely be argued in respect to other countries that are major polluters and fossil fuel exporters.

The Court states that wrongful acts – which could include breaching treaty obligations or failing to regulate climate pollution – under international law could trigger repatriation obligations, including obligations to compensate other countries harmed by climate disasters. 

The Court also finds an obligation for countries to limit climate pollution from private actors in its jurisdiction. This appears to be a broad definition that would apply to fossil fuels production for international or domestic use.

The Court’s advice gives the Australian government reason to consider the totality of Australia’s contribution to climate harm, including our exported climate pollution. In particular, the Court’s decision is pertinent to the Federal Government’s review of Australia’s national environment laws. Currently, when the Federal Environment Minister considers whether to approve new fossil fuel projects there is no provision in the act to consider the climate pollution from that project. Given the Court’s very strong findings, it will be difficult for the Australian government to argue that it has the “highest possible ambition in order to realize the objectives of the [Paris] Agreement”, if it does not reform the environment laws and/or take other substantive measures to prevent the expansion of Australia’s fossil fuel industry.

The post Implications of the International Court of Justice decision for Australia appeared first on Climate Council.

From 2027, new homes in Victoria won’t be connected to the gas network. Instead, they’ll be fully electric, powered by clean energy and equipped with efficient appliances like reverse-cycle air conditioners and induction cooktops.

This plan is a big step forward, especially for a state that currently relies more on gas in homes than anywhere else in Australia.

So why does this matter?

Because gas is a fossil fuel, and it’s polluting our homes and planet.

Cooking with gas is estimated to be responsible for up to 12% of the burden of childhood asthma in Australia, and the gas industry’s claims about “clean gas” don’t hold up. It’s mostly methane, a potent greenhouse gas that’s making climate change worse.

And the truth is, gas is costing us way more than it should. In 2022, our Switch and Save report found that the average Melbourne household could save around $1,200 a year by going all-electric.

So this plan doesn’t just clean up the air and our climate, it puts money back in people’s pockets too.

What’s in the plan?

The Victorian Government announcement includes:

• Phasing out gas hot water – from March 2027, only efficient electric hot water systems can be installed in Victorian homes. When an existing gas hot water system reaches the end of its useful life, it will have to be replaced with an efficient electric one.

• New buildings to be all-electric – already, new houses that require a planning permit must be all-electric. From January 2027, this will extend to all residential and commercial buildings (with a few logical exceptions, such as large industrial facilities).

• More efficient electric homes for renters and people living in public housing – from March 2027, landlords must begin providing decent insulation, draught-proofing, water saving showerheads, and efficient all-electric appliances for hot water, heating and air conditioning.

• A program to help Victoria’s gas appliance manufacturers upgrade their facilities and reskill their workforce. 

These are the smart, coordinated policies we need to cut climate pollution, protect public health, and protect families from the rising cost of living.

Where to from here?

Victoria is leading the way, and it’s time for other states to step up.

We congratulate the Allan Government on this strong move to help Victorians improve their homes and their health. Now we need other governments to follow Victoria’s lead.

A media release on the Victorian government’s plan to help households get off polluting gas is available.

The post Victoria’s plan to get homes off gas is a win for our climate, our kids, and our hip pockets appeared first on Climate Council.

A few superstar suburbs are leading the charge when it comes to rooftop solar capacity, and that’s worth celebrating. So let’s give a shout out to our top ten solar suburbs!

The Solar Suburb Leaderboard

#10

Queensland’s Glenwood now has another claim to fame besides the annual ‘Swap Car and Bike show’. Over the past year, residents collectively installed 11.71 MW of rooftop solar capacity, enough electricity to power 3500 homes.

#9

The Burragorang Lookout isn’t the only good view from Camden, New South Wales. Their rooftop solar installations are looking pretty good too, with a combined installed capacity of 14.87 MW in just the last 12 months, which could power 4500 homes.

#8

As if stunning coral reefs, nearby islands and world-famous whale watching wasn’t enough, Hervey Bay in Queensland has harnessed the power of the sun by adding 15.01 MW of rooftop solar between 2023-2024. That’s enough clean energy to power 4500 homes! 

#7

It would be surprising if a town along the Sunshine Coast failed to make it into Australia’s top 10 solar suburbs. Caloundra, Queensland, had an impressive 15.45 MW of rooftop solar capacity installed over the last year, enough to power 4600 households. 

#6

The thriving community of Roxburgh Park, Victoria, has shone over the past year, with 15.79 MW of solar capacity added across the township. That much energy could power 4700 homes!

#5

The unassuming residential suburb of Kellyville, New South Wales, comes in at number five, with 16.08 MW of rooftop solar capacity added throughout the last twelve months.

#4

It’s not just the rum that’s big in Bundaberg, Queensland! The community had 16.34 MW of rooftop solar capacity installed over the past 12 months. 

#3

It might be known as the ‘Sugar Capital of Australia’, but to us it’s the 3rd most impressive suburb for solar installation capacity over the past 12 months! Mackay, Qld added a combined capacity of 16.34 MW. With that much power, they can power more than 6100 homes!  

#2

The small town of Tarneit, just outside of Melbourne in Victoria, had a whopping 22.60 MW rooftop solar installation capacity over the past 12 months, which is seriously impressive. That means they’re producing enough clean energy to power 6800 households! 

#1

And finally, coming in at number one…Box Hill, NSW, doesn’t have a box, or a hill, or even a boxy hill! But its community does have 27.69 MW of rooftop solar capacity installed in the past twelve months. This huge amount of energy could power a whopping 8300 homes! Shine on, Box Hill!

The State Leaderboard

When it comes to the state household solar leaderboard, well…it isn’t called ‘the sunshine state’ for nothing. Queensland leads the nation with the highest number of installations in 2023 at 54,365. 

read the full report here

Queensland is also the state with the highest number of solar installations, period. Almost one million homes in the sunshine state now have rooftop solar, adding more capacity than all of Queensland’s publicly-owned coal-fired power generators combined! Trailing in the sunshine state’s wake is:

• Victoria, with 51,104 in 2023. 
• New South Wales comes in third, with 48,470 installations. 
• Western Australia is next, with a total of 44,899 installations. 
• In fifth place is the Australian Capital Territory, with 22,803 installations. 
• South Australia follows, with 20,849 installations. 
• Second to last, we have Northern Territory with 6,734 installations; and 
• Rounding out the list is Tasmania with 6,070 installations. 

Let’s Seize the Sun

It’s time to seize the sun. Rooftop solar is popular around the country because families and communities understand its huge potential to cut electricity bills, give households more control over their energy needs, and slash climate pollution. A renewed push to share these benefits with more households and businesses can directly respond to the cost-of-living and energy pressures Australians are feeling now.

To seize the sun and realise our household solar potential, our governments have an important role to play. They can do this by implementing the following policies: 

• Aussie Solar Drive – a bold national push to double rooftop solar and storage capacity by the end of the decade. This plan will empower millions of Aussies with cleaner, cheaper electricity, while strengthening our national grid and permanently cutting climate pollution across the economy.
• Australian Energy Corps – Australia’s biggest-ever energy training initiative, equipping young people and experienced energy workers with the skills to power up Australia in secure, well-paid jobs. 

Everyone should have the opportunity to access clean, reliable and affordable electricity. If we get the policies right,two in three Australian homes and many more businesses will experience these benefits this decade. For millions more,  clean and affordable solar power will come from a grid boosted by abundant electricity made cheaply during our sunny days, and captured and stored in communities close to home and available to use when it is needed most. This is the bright future that a supercharged rooftop solar and storage plan for Australia offers. So, let’s get on with it!

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