Australia is committed to ambitious and practical climate action. We’re taking significant steps at home, in our region, and globally.
DFAT provides advice to Government on international climate issues to advance our foreign policy, economic and development interests internationally. DFAT supports international cooperation on climate change action, including through integrating climate change across the development assistance program.
The Good Practice Note provides guidance for Implementing Partners on Australia’s key climate change commitments under Australia’s International Development Policy and how to integrate climate change considerations into development assistance either by mainstreaming or via a primary or secondary climate change related objective.
The Ambassador for Climate Change, Ms Kristin Tilley, leads Australia’s international climate diplomacy, with a focus on engaging with the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The Ambassador for Climate Change can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) at @AusAmbClimate.
Our work includes:
Climate Diplomacy
The Ambassador for Climate Change continues to undertake extensive international engagement. This year, her program will focus on major international meetings, participation in a number of climate public diplomacy programs as a key speaker and visits programs in regions critical to Australia's climate agenda.
In 2024-25, DFAT launched its $535,000 inaugural climate public diplomacy program funding 16 programs across 39 locations promoting four major themes – renewable energy superpower, Pacific Partnerships, Climate Finance, and Trade for Sustainable growth.
To support our global network's climate capability uplift, in January 2025 six officers commenced six-month regional climate diplomacy postings in Mexico City (Latin America), United Nations Head Quarters New York (North America), Singapore (Southeast Asia), Brussels (Europe), Nairobi (Africa) and Ankara (Middle East and Central Asia).
30th United Nations Climate Change Conference
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) will take place in Belem, Brazil, between 10 November and 21 November 2025.
At COP30 the Australian Government will advocate for outcomes that advance climate action and implementation, including ambitious post-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and meaningful progress across the five pillars of mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity building .
For information on Australia's engagement in the UNFCCC and events in the lead-up to annual climate change meetings, please visit the Stakeholder Engagement Hub.
Visit the COP30 Website for more information.
31st United Nations Climate Change Conference
The Australian Government is bidding to co-host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with our Pacific neighbours. If our bid is successful, hosting will help accelerate global climate action, catalyse investment in the global transition, and bring profile to the climate challenges in our region.
29th United Nations Climate Change Conference
COP29 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, between 11 November and 22 December 2024. It brought together representatives from around the world to tackle climate change.
A New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance was decided at COP29. The new goal represents a commitment to mobilise USD300 billion per year by 2035 for developing countries, as part of a global effort. This collective goal also includes a broader call to work together to scale up financing from all sources (including the private sector) to at least USD1.3 trillion per year to support climate action in developing countries. Australia worked alongside other Parties to the Paris Agreement to secure this outcome.
At COP29, countries also made milestone progress to agree rules for carbon markets across a suite of issues including on mitigation, adaptation, and just transition. Visit the COP29 website for more information.
Australia at COP29
To further support those most vulnerable to the climate crisis, the Australian Government announced it would guarantee up to USD 200 million worth of Asian Development Bank climate lending for the Pacific and Southeast Asia and contribute:
- $125 million for Pacific regional climate adaptation and energy transition
- $50 million contribution to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage
- $2.5 million Pacific Climate and Health Resilience Package.
Australia also joined the following initiatives:
- COP29 Hydrogen Declaration
- COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge
- Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers
- Call to Action for No New Coal in national climate plans
- Clean Energy Finance Mission under the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA).
Additionally, the Prime Minister announced Australia had joined the United Kingdom-led Finance Mission of the Global Clean Power Alliance, at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, (during the second week of COP29).
As part of the COP29 Action Agenda Australian officials engaged in over 20 Pacific events that spanned climate finance, the ocean-climate nexus, climate and health, and climate mobility. DFAT led seven activities at the Australia Pavilion, which were well attended, including by Pacific leaders and Ministers and regional organisations. The Ambassador for Climate Change participated in events including the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) Public Finance in Action at the United Kingdom Pavilion, and the Climate Mobility Pavilion's Youth Day.
DFAT works closely across the Australian Government to ensure our international and domestic climate action is aligned. Visit their websites to read more on their climate change policies and activities.
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Department of Home Affairs' Emergency Management
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- National Emergency Management Agency
- Bureau of Meteorology
- Australia's National Science Agency (CSIRO)
- Australian Renewable Energy Agency
- National Water Grid Authority
- Clean Energy Regulator
- Clean Energy Finance Corporation
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
- Net Zero Economy Authority
- Australian Energy Market Operator