There is a solid base of public support for climate action — especially among younger and urban Australians — but some fatigue, cost-sensitivity, and regional/industry-based pockets of resistance remain.
Political Leadership
The federal government is led by the Australian Labor Party (ALP), led by Anthony Albanese, which, since 2022, has signaled stronger climate ambitions than its predecessor. In September 2025, the government announced an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, setting a target to reduce emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 DCCEEW. Additionally, a new 2035 emissions reduction target of 62–70% below 2005 levels was introduced, marking a significant step towards long-term climate goals, Norton Rose Fulbright.
In contrast, the opposition Liberal–National Coalition has expressed reservations about the rapid implementation of climate policy. Internal divisions have emerged, with some members proposing to repeal the 2022 Climate Change Act, which legally commits Australia to net-zero emissions by 2050, while maintaining international commitments under the Paris Agreement. This proposal has faced criticism from within the party, with figures like National Senator Matt Canavan labeling it a “half-pregnant mess” and reiterating strong opposition to net-zero targets, arguing they harm the economy.
While the Albanese government has aligned its policies with ambitious climate goals, the Coalition’s internal disagreements and policy proposals indicate a significant divide in Australia’s political landscape regarding climate action.
Technical capacity
On the technical front, Australia already has much of the infrastructure needed to measure and manage emissions. The Clean Energy Regulator oversees the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGER). This national framework requires large companies to report their greenhouse-gas emissions, energy use, and production each year (Clean Energy Regulator, 2025).
In the 2023–24 reporting cycle, 961 companies disclosed around 303 million tonnes of direct (scope 1) emissions — a 4 million tonne drop from the previous year, showing gradual progress but also the scale of the challenge (Clean Energy Regulator, 2025).
Additionally, Australia is about to roll out the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS), which will make climate-related disclosure mandatory for large entities from 2025–26 onwards. These standards, closely modelled on the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) framework, will require companies to report their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, climate risks, transition plans, and governance processes (Australian Accounting Standards Board, 2024). This marks a major step forward in the country’s technical and institutional capacity to track emissions and align financial reporting with climate targets.
Alongside regulatory measures, Australia’s research institutions — particularly the CSIRO and ARENA — continue to advance renewable energy, green hydrogen, and storage technologies. However, the transition still faces headwinds: grid bottlenecks, planning delays, and inconsistent state-federal coordination are slowing the pace at which renewable capacity can replace coal and gas.
In short, Australia’s technical ability to monitor, manage, and report emissions is strong and rapidly improving through the ASRS rollout — but success will depend on how quickly policy and infrastructure catch up with capability.
The media
The media in Australia play a significant role in shaping how climate change is framed and discussed. Coverage is highly polarized: while public broadcasters such as the ABC and outlets like The Guardian emphasise climate risks and mitigation, parts of the commercial press continue to amplify scepticism. For example, in 2025, The Daily Telegraph (owned by News Corp) described the National Climate Risk Assessment as “science fiction,” citing a US-based political scientist to dismiss the findings, despite robust Australian scientific input (The Guardian, 2025) (source). Such portrayals contribute to public confusion and influence political debate, reinforcing regional and ideological differences in perceptions of climate change.
What about the Australian public? Polls show that concern about climate change is relatively high — but it is not uniform and varies by age, political leaning, and region.
- In the 2025 survey by the Lowy Institute, 51% of Australians said “global warming is a serious and pressing problem” that needs immediate action, even if it involves significant costs. poll.lowyinstitute.org+2poll.lowyinstitute.org+2
- Among younger Australians (18-29), that figure rises to 63%, while among those aged 60+, it falls to 46%. poll.lowyinstitute.org
- On energy-mix questions: in 2025, 75% said renewables should play a major role by 2050. poll.lowyinstitute.org
- But support is more divided when it comes to banning new coal mines (54% in favour) and introducing an emissions trading scheme (56% in favour) — down from earlier years. poll.lowyinstitute.org+1
So there is a solid base of public support for climate action — especially among younger and urban Australians — but some fatigue, cost-sensitivity, and regional/industry-based pockets of resistance remain.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Australia Country Manager, Jessica Gregory.
Edited by Diana Gastelum.