Climate change is a worldwide problem and requires all countries to be part of the solution. Australia is the 13th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world – bigger than 182 other countries – and we are also one of the highest polluters per person. We’re an important global player.

Australia’s trading partners and allies have now stepped up their action on climate change. To bring Australian action in line with the world, the Climate Change Authority (CCA) has determined that Australia needs to reduce emissions by 40-60% by 2030 on 2000 levels (or a range of approximately 45 to 65% below 2005 levels). Although it’s important to note that the CCA’s recommendations are based on a two-thirds chance of avoiding 2°C warming. For a stronger chance, the target should be higher.

Emission reduction targets are important because they signal the intent of individual countries to tackle climate change. And, by combining all of the countries emissions reduction targets, we can get a more complete picture of how the world is (or isn’t) tracking towards reaching the goal of limiting global warming to 2°C.