Australia is committed to ambitious and practical action on climate change. We’re taking significant steps at home, in our region, and at the global level.
DFAT provides advice to Government on international climate issues to advance our foreign policy, economic and development interests internationally. The department 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 via 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:
29th United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, between 11 November and 22 November 2024.
COP29 will be important to sustain the momentum from outcomes achieved by the Global Stocktake and COP28.
At COP29 the Australian Government will be advocating for outcomes which advance action and implementation, including the development of ambitious post-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions; implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework; and agreement to a New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance.
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.
31st United Nations Climate Change Conference
The Australian Government is bidding to co-host the 31st UNFCCC COP 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.
28th United Nations Climate Change Conference
COP28 took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between 30 November and 12 December 2023. It brought together representatives from around the world to tackle climate change.
At COP28, the first collective review of the Paris Agreement – the Global Stocktake was undertaken. While much progress has been made, it was clear the world must accelerate efforts to keep 1.5 Celsius in reach.
Over 190 countries acknowledged that renewable energy is our future. These countries agreed to contribute to a tripling of global renewable energy by 2030 and, for the first time, to transition away from fossil fuel in energy systems to achieve net zero by 2050. COP28 established a new fund to support developing countries address losses and damages arising from climate change impacts, including the most vulnerable states – a significant outcome for the Pacific.
Parties agreed an ambitious new framework for the global goal on adaptation. The new framework will support a global step-up in adaptation action and support and help track progress against our goals to build resilience in agriculture, our water supplies, and our ecosystems.
Visit the COP28 website for more information on outcomes.
Australia at COP28
To further support those most vulnerable to the climate crisis, the Australian Government announced at COP28 it would contribute $100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led solution to the region's climate finance access challenges; and re-joined and contributed $50 million to the Green Climate Fund. Australia also signed up to the Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP, also known as the Glasgow Statement). Alongside Norway, Australia joined 39 other countries and institutions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Fiji, in committing to end new direct public support for international unabated fossil fuel energy sector projects, except in limited and clearly defined circumstances. Australia’s implementation Guidelines were published on 5 December 2025, within a year of joining the commitment.
Australia again hosted a Pavilion at COP28 with an extensive program of events bringing together industry and NGO representatives. Our COP28 Action Agenda promoted our aspirations to become a renewable energy superpower, share our clean energy to help other countries decarbonise, and to seize the economic opportunities in the global shift to net-zero. Pavilion activities connected Australian industry to international investors, and showcased the significant actions Australia has undertaken, including our ambitious goal to transform our electricity grid from 32% renewables in 2022 to 82% by 2030. A prominent theme across Pavilion activities was the importance of inclusion of broader perspectives around gender, First Nations, and youth.
DFAT works closely with other government departments 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