Policy Overview

The Australian Government implemented an economy-wide target in 2015 to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030, as part of Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. In 2015, the Climate Change Authority (CCA) recommended a more ambitious 45-63% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2030.

InfluenceMap Query

GHG Emission Reduction Target

Policy Status

Active: NDC reconfirmed in 2021

Evidence Profile

324162734

Key

opposing not supporting mixed/unclear
supporting strongly supporting

Policy Engagement Overview

  • Of the evidence collected on corporate and industry lobbying on Australia’s 2030 GHG target from 2015-2021, there are significant more instances of lobbying to weaken the policy than strengthen it.
  • While only a small proportion of evidence actively opposed the target, InfluenceMap found 24 cases of entities supporting a weaker GHG target, advocating exemptions for EITE industries, and/or actively lobbying against the Labor Government’s more ambitious proposal of 45% emissions reductions by 2030. For example, the Business Council of Australia labelled Labor’s 45% GHG target “economy wrecking” in 2018.
  • There were 20 instances of support for the current target of 26-28%, with a further 18 instances of support for a more ambitious 2030 target.
  • Just one organization – Carbon Market Institute – appears to have supported a federal GHG target in line with CCA recommendations.

Impacts on Policy Ambition

In December 2020, Australia re-communicated its 2015 NDC as part of the "ratchet mechanism" under the Paris Agreement. Australia failed to increase its 2030 ambition beyond the original target of 26-28% The new NDC states: "This target is a floor on Australia's ambition. Australia is aiming to overachieve…". However, Australia's 2030 GHG target remains misaligned with the Paris Agreement and the advice of the Climate Change Authority, and has been categorized as "Insufficient" by Climate Action Tracker in line with 2°C to 3°C warming scenarios.

* in face of calls for increasing the ambition of the target.

InfluenceMap Query

GHG Emission Reduction Target

Policy Status

Active: NDC reconfirmed in 2021

Evidence Profile

324162734

Key

opposing not supporting mixed/unclear
supporting strongly supporting

Entities Engaged on Policy

The table below lists the entities tracked by InfluenceMap which have publicly engaged with the policy. InfluenceMap tracks around 300 companies and 150 industry associations globally. Each entity links back to the entities’ full InfluenceMap profile, where the evidence of its engagement can be found.

Influencemap Performance BandOrganizationEngagement Intensity
C+AGL Australia39UtilitiesOceania
DAlcoa14Metals & MiningNorth America
C-Ampol Limited (formerly Caltex Australia)10EnergyOceania
D+Anglo American23Metals & MiningEurope
BApple30Information TechnologyNorth America
CAustralia and New Zealand Banking Group11FinancialsOceania
D-Banpu10EnergyOceania
D+BHP38Metals & MiningOceania
C-Bluescope Steel35Metals & MiningOceania
D+Boral Limited8Metals & MiningOceania
CBP61EnergyEurope
D-Chevron49EnergyNorth America
C-CLP Holdings (EnergyAustralia)19UtilitiesAsia
D+Coles Group3Consumer StaplesOceania
C+Commonwealth Bank of Australia7FinancialsOceania
D-ConocoPhillips38EnergyNorth America
DExxonMobil52EnergyNorth America
C-Fortescue Metals Group29Metals & MiningOceania
D-Glencore International31Metals & MiningEurope
CInsurance Australia Group7FinancialsOceania
C-Lendlease5Construction MaterialsOceania
CMacquarie Group20FinancialsOceania
D+Mitsubishi Corporation22IndustrialsAsia
B-National Australia Bank12FinancialsOceania
D+Orica17IndustrialsOceania
C-Origin Energy44EnergyOceania
FPeabody19Metals & MiningNorth America
C-Qantas Airways13TransportationOceania
D+Rio Tinto Group39Metals & MiningEurope
CShell64EnergyEurope
DSantos23EnergyOceania
N/ASingapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel)3TelecommunicationsAsia
D+South3215Metals & MiningOceania
CSuncorp8FinancialsOceania
FSunset Power International (Delta Electricity)15UtilitiesOceania
CTelstra9TelecommunicationsOceania
D+Virgin Australia7TransportationOceania
DViva Energy12EnergyOceania
C-Wesfarmers14RetailingOceania
C+Westpac Banking Corporation15FinancialsOceania
E-Whitehaven Coal21Metals & MiningOceania
D-Woodside40EnergyOceania
CWoolworths Ltd10Consumer StaplesOceania
E+Yancoal14Metals & MiningOceania
DToyota Motor39AutomobilesAsia
N/AAMP5FinancialsOceania
CHolcim48Construction MaterialsEurope
N/AMetcash2Consumer StaplesOceania
DBeach Energy10EnergyNorth America
D-Newcrest Mining6MaterialsOceania
D+InterGen6EnergyEurope
C-Snowy Hydro12EnergyOceania
DTamboran Resources13EnergyOceania
D+Senex Energy11EnergyOceania
CAustralian Industry Group (Ai Group)56All SectorsOceania
C-Business Council of Australia53All SectorsOceania
E+Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry20All SectorsOceania
D+Australian Industry Greenhouse Network25EnergyOceania
DEnergy Users Association of Australia25EnergyOceania
A-Energy Efficiency Council27EnergyOceania
CAustralian Energy Council43EnergyOceania
A-Clean Energy Council39EnergyOceania
D-Minerals Council of Australia (MCA)49Metals & MiningOceania
ENSW Minerals Council32Metals & MiningOceania
EQueensland Resources Council (QRC)22Metals & MiningOceania
D-Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME)27Metals & MiningOceania
E+Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)43EnergyOceania
DAustralian Pipelines and Gas Association18EnergyOceania
BCarbon Market Institute45All SectorsOceania
C-Gas Energy Australia19EnergyOceania
CEnergy Networks Australia16EnergyOceania
DSouth Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy20Metals & MiningOceania
E+Association of Mining and Exploration Companies24Metals & MiningOceania
E+Australian Institute of Petroleum10EnergyOceania
N/AAustralian Steel Institute4All SectorsOceania
D+Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI)24AutomobilesOceania
BElectric Vehicle Council25AutomobilesOceania