New documents reveal how Labor stalled on 2035 emissions reduction target

Labor has been canvassing Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target for more than a year leading up to the federal election, despite having ruled out a pre-poll announcement, it can be revealed. 

Countries must refresh goals to slash greenhouse gas emissions every five years under global climate pact rules and the government has been criticised for failing to produce a target before the election, due May 17 or earlier.

Australia is not alone on the world stage in missing the February deadline but is under pressure to install bold targets given it is bidding to host the 2026 global climate talks alongside Pacific nations.

Cabinet material about what Australia’s 2035 emissions reduction target should be was handed to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen in February 2024, freedom of information documents show.

A cabinet brief was created last April.

PowerPoint presentations for the senior ministry were also formulated in December 2024 and January 2025, and there were numerous documents for cabinet deliberations throughout 2024.

There were 18 documents totalling 339 pages about the topic as of February 4, 2025, none of them released under an AAP FOI application. 

In its reasoning for the refusal, the department said while there was public interest in the 2035 target, it wasn’t satisfied disclosures would better inform public debate as the matter was still being considered.

Making the documents public would also prejudice cabinet’s decision-making and “is expected to lead to heightened and intense efforts to persuade the government to rule in or out particular 2035 targets or associated policies before it has received formal advice from the Climate Change Authority”.

“This in turn reduces the ability of cabinet to make a decision that best maximises outcomes for Australia and the public interest,” the refusal notice says.

The independent Climate Change Authority is legally required to provide advice before final emissions targets are bedded down and Labor ministers say their hands are tied until this guidance is produced.

Mr Bowen’s office pointed to comments from UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell in February saying it made sense to take more time to ensure plans were “first-rate”.

Also of note, was a previous interview in December where the minister was told by the authority several more months were needed.

Mr Bowen has alluded to uncertainty about United States President Donald Trump scrapping the Inflation Reduction Act, which was set up to spur renewables investment.

September is the deadline for plans to be on the secretariat’s desk. 

The Liberals have demanded transparency but equally refused to reveal any emissions reduction policies in line with Australia’s obligations.

The Paris Agreement requires signatories to update emissions reduction targets every five years.

Australia’s bid to host the Conference of the Parties summit in 2026 could also be on shaky ground should the coalition win the federal election.

Mr Bowen argues co-hosting the summit with the Pacific would show Australia is serious about tackling climate change and its commitment to the region.

Turkey is also bidding to host COP31 and both parties failed to reach an agreement at the COP29 summit held in Baku in November 2024.

Source: AAP