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Australia's jurisdictional emission targets revisited

Written by Matthew Thompson

A coordinated response to climate change

Climate change presents a significant challenge at the jurisdictional level, marked by rising temperatures, increasingly frequent extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and disruptions in agriculture. Collectively, these factors pose threats to local food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

In Australia, all states and territories have taken significant steps to address the urgent issue of climate change. Each jurisdiction has established distinct goals, policies, and strategies aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the challenges posed by a changing climate.

As we approach the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP28), this article will provide an updated assessment of the efforts undertaken by specific Australian jurisdictions. It will highlight their objectives and the measures they have implemented to combat climate change, while also evaluating their contributions to global climate mitigation efforts. You can find our 2021 assessment here.

For an updated assessment from an Australian national level, please see our article Australia’s National Emission Targets Revisited.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Government has established a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, using 1990 levels as a baseline. Progressive targets have been set at 50-60% reduction by 2025, 65-75% by 2030, and 90-95% by 2040. These targets have been legislated under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010.

To outline the steps the government will take to meet these targets, they have released the ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-2025. This strategy primarily focuses on reductions in emissions from transport and gas, the two predominant sources of emissions in the ACT.

Priorities outlined in the strategy include community-driven solutions and support for low-income households, encouraging people to use public transport and reduce car use, climate-wise zero emissions homes and buildings, capturing methane and using it to generate electricity, sustainable farming practices, and much more.

See how the ACT is tracking with emissions reductions.

New South Wales

The Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 serves as the foundation for NSW’s action on climate change. It outlines the NSW Government’s commitment to reduce emissions by 70% by 2035 compared to 2005 levels and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The plan supports a wide range of initiatives targeting energy, electric vehicles, hydrogen, primary industries, technology, built environment, carbon financing and organic waste. It focuses on four main priorities:

Drive the uptake of emissions reduction technologies.
Empower consumers and businesses to make sustainable choices.
Invest in the next wave of emissions reduction innovations to ensure economic prosperity beyond 2030.
Ensure the NSW Government sets an example by leading in these efforts.

Additionally, the NSW Government has introduced the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, which aims to enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of NSW in response to a changing climate and evolving international and national policy measures to combat climate change. They have also established the NSW Climate Change Fund to address the impacts of climate change.

See how NSW is tracking with emissions reductions.

Northern Territory

The NT Government’s Climate Change Response: Towards 2050  provides a policy framework that will enable the NT to strategically manage climate change risks and opportunities, achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and reach the target of 50% renewable energy for electricity consumed from grid-connected installations by 2030, as outlined in its Roadmap to Renewables.

The Response identifies four key objectives to guide future actions and the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies. These objectives include achieving net zero emissions, building a resilient Territory, unlocking opportunities from a low carbon future, and informing and involving all Territorians.

Queensland

The Queensland Climate Action Plan outlines renewable energy and emission reduction targets in Queensland, and identifies priorities related to electricity, transport, agriculture, buildings and land. The targets included in the plan are:

50% renewable energy target by 2030
30% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2030
70% renewable energy by 2032
80% renewable energy by 2035
Achieving zero net emissions by 2050.

In addition to the Climate Action Plan, Queensland has also released the Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy 2017–2030. This strategy provides a framework to enhance Queensland’s climate resilience and manage the risks associated with a changing climate.

See how Queensland is  tracking with emissions reductions.

South Australia

South Australia was the first state in Australia to legislate targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007. The legislation initially set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% to an amount equal to or less than 40% of 1990 levels by December 31, 2050.

Since then, SA has declared a climate emergency, and the Government plans to review and amend the legislation to update SA’s goals. These goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% below 2005 levels by 2030, achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and achieving 100% renewable energy generation by 2030.

SA has also released South Australia – Responding to Climate Change, which outlines the priority actions that the Government will focus on in the near term to build a resilient, net zero-emissions future and adapt to climate change.

See how South Australia is  tracking with emissions reductions.

Tasmania

The Climate Change (State Action) Act 2008  establishes the legislative framework for the Tasmanian Government’s efforts to address climate change. The Act introduces a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for Tasmania, aiming for net zero emissions, or lower from 2030.

Tasmania has also released the Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25, which outlines the government’s climate action agenda for the next two years. The plan includes the following targets:

Doubling renewable electricity production by 2040 (from 2020 levels) with an interim target of 150% by 2030.
Becoming a significant producer of renewable hydrogen by 2030.
Reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.
Decreasing the volume of organic waste sent to landfill by 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030.

See how Tasmania is tracking with emissions reductions.

Victoria

The Climate Change Act 2017 provides Victoria with the legislative foundation to manage climate change risks, maximise the opportunities arising from decisive action, and facilitate the transition to a climate-resilient community and economy.

The Act encompasses various provisions, including:

Establishing a long-term emissions reduction target of net zero by 2045.
Requiring five-yearly interim targets, to keep Victoria on track to meet this long-term target.
Introducing a new set of policy objectives and updating guiding principles to incorporate climate change considerations in government decision-making.
Mandating the development of a Climate Change Strategy every 5 years, outlining how Victoria will meet its targets and adapt to climate change impacts.
Requiring the formulation of Adaptation Action Plans for key systems vulnerable to the climate change impacts.
Implementing a system of periodic reporting to provide transparency, accountability and ensure the community remains informed.

The Victorian Government has set the following interim targets to reduce the state’s emissions as part of its trajectory towards achieving net zero emissions by 2045:

28-33% reduction by 2025
45-50% reduction by 2030
75-80% reduction by 2035.

Additionally, Victoria’s current renewable energy targets, as legislated in the Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017 (Vic) are as follows:

25% by 2020 (achieved)
40% by 2025
50% by 2030*

*At the time of writing this article, the Victorian Government was in the process of changing the 2030 target to 60% and adding another target of 95% by 2035.

The Victorian Government has also released Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy, which outlines current action on climate change and the next steps to be taken, and Building Victoria’s Climate Resilience, which outlines current adaptation efforts and future plans, guided by the adaptation priorities set out in the Climate Change Strategy and a five-yearly planning framework.

See how Victoria is tracking with emissions reductions.

Western Australia

The Western Australian Climate Policy outlines the State Government’s strategy for building a climate-resilient community and fostering a prosperous low-carbon future. The policy emphasises the commitment to adapting to climate change and collaborating with all sectors of the economy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Furthermore, the Government has proposed a Climate Change Bill (explanatory paper), which will ensure State Government accountability regarding climate action. It formalises WA’s long-term target of net zero emissions by 2050 and establishes statutory requirements for setting interim emission reduction targets and developing policies to reduce emissions and enhance climate resilience.

The WA Government has also adopted a Climate Adaptation Strategy  that builds on  Climate Resilient WA: Directions for the state’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, which was published in December 2022. The strategy is designed to enhance the resilience of communities, the environment and the economy to future climate change. It outlines four directions to support and accelerate climate adaptation efforts across the state.

Snapshot of each jurisdiction’s emission reduction and renewable energy targets

State	Achieve net zero	Reduction targets	Renewable energy targets	More information
ACT	2045 (based on 1990 levels)	50-60% reduction by 2025 65-75% reduction by 2030 90-95% reduction by 2040	Achieved 100% renewable energy	ACT Climate Change Strategy
NSW	2050 (based on 2005 levels)	70% reduction by 2035	Targets not set	NSW Net zero Plan
NT	2050	Targets not set	50% by 2030	NT Climate Change Response: Towards 2050
QLD	2050 (based on 2005 levels)	30% reduction by 2030	50% by 2030 70% by 2032 80% by 2035	Queensland Climate Action Plan
SA	2050 (based on 2005 levels)	50% reduction by 2030	100% by 2030	SA’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting
TAS	2030	Achieved net zero emissions	Achieved 100% renewable energy 150% by 2030 200% by 2040	Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan
VIC	2045 (based on 2005 levels)	28-33% reduction by 2025 45-50% reduction by 2030 75-80% reduction by 2035	40% by 2025 50% by 2030	Victorian Climate Action Targets
WA	2050	Targets not set	Targets not set	Western Australian Climate Change Policy

Download a PDF version of this snapshot here.

References

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia