Australia works closely with international partners to address the impacts of climate change and supports full, equal, and diverse participation and leadership in international climate processes. We continue to recognise the unique contributions of Indigenous Peoples, women and girls, persons with disabilities, and youth in climate change action.

Australia continues working with Pacific Island Countries in bidding to host COP31 in 2026, to accelerate global climate action and to bring profile to the climate impacts in our region.

We work with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to negotiate and meet Australia’s obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Contents

• Committed to the Paris Agreement
• Nationally Determined Contributions
• Climate finance
• Bilateral initiatives
• Action on biodiversity
• Action on plastics
• Action on forests
• Action on the ocean
• Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• Green Climate Fund (GCF)
• Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosure
• International Partnerships for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy
• Mission Innovation
• International Renewable Energy Agency
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Committed to the Paris Agreement

Australia is party to the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement came into force in 2016. It was a major step forward in international efforts to address climate change. Other international treaties are the:

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Kyoto Protocol.

The Paris Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by:

• holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
• pursuing efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.

Nationally Determined Contributions

Under the Paris Agreement, Australia must submit emissions reduction commitments known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Australia submitted its first NDC to the UNFCCC in 2015. We submitted an updated version of this NDC in 2022. The update commits Australia to reducing its emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Australia will submit its second NDC to the UNFCCC in 2025.

• See Australia's NDC on the UNFCCC registry.
• Read about Australia's domestic actions for climate change.

Climate finance

Australia's climate finance supports countries in our region adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change and to reduce their emissions by investing in renewables and clean technologies to meet their net-zero transition goals.

Australia has strengthened its previous $2 billion climate finance commitment and expects to deliver $3 billion towards the global goal (USD100 billion per annum) over 2020-25, largely through existing ODA commitments. 

Australia's climate finance is focused on the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Our climate finance includes bilateral and regional programs, along with contributions to multilateral development banks' climate programming and multilateral climate funds like the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund (pledge announced in December 2023).

Australia is investing in a number of climate and clean energy infrastructure priorities to support partners in our region to build climate resilience and transition to net-zero. This includes our $200 million Climate and Infrastructure Partnership with Indonesia through the Partnerships for Infrastructure program, and our Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership.

Australia is committed to responding to calls for climate action at home and abroad and will continue to contribute towards the collective USD100 billion per annum climate finance goal.

Action on biodiversity

Australia recognises the important linkages between climate change and global environmental priorities including biodiversity loss, and the need to conserve, restore and protect ecosystems. Net zero emissions cannot be reached without a transition to a nature positive world. Our biodiversity initiatives go hand-in-hand with climate adaptation action. The Climate Resilient by Nature program delivers a portfolio of community-led ecosystem restoration and conservation programs in the Indo-Pacific – boosting biodiversity, sequestering carbon and making communities more resilient to climate change and disasters.

Action on plastics

Plastic pollution is a global issue that cannot be solved alone. In 2022, Australia joined the global fight to end plastic pollution at the UN Environment Assembly, agreeing to negotiate a new global treaty on plastic pollution. Australia strongly supports the new global treaty and will play an active leadership role in negotiations. This is an important pillar of the new government's international environmental agenda.

Australia has also signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, fulfilling Minister Pliberseks promise at the 2022 UN Oceans Conference that Australia would sign up to the Global Commitment by the end of that year.

Australia also plays a lead role in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Sustainable Plastics Trade Initiative (the IDP), and has joined a number of international initiatives to combat marine plastic pollution.

The Environment and Water Minister has stated she would like to see a plastic pollution-free Pacific within our lifetime. Australia is investing in regional initiatives to address the Pacific waste management challenges, including within the Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Countries Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) to work towards a regional circular economy for plastic packaging. We are also assisting our Pacific Island neighbours to reduce marine plastic litter through the $16 million Pacific Ocean Litter Project (2019-2026).

Action on forests

Action to protect and sustainably manage forests is a key part of taking climate action, addressing biodiversity loss, and achieving sustainable development. Australia is engaged in a range of international fora and cooperative bilateral arrangements on forests matters, led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.

Australia is also actively engaged in the United Nations Forum on Forests, to progress the implementation of sustainable forest management globally and help realise the UN's 2030 Global Forest Goals, and within the APEC Expert Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade to combat this global crime with its widespread environmental, social and economic impacts.

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research's Forestry Program contributes scientific support towards the sustainable management and use of forests, helping to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their communities in partner countries. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research's Forestry Program contributes scientific support towards the sustainable management and use of forests, helping to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their communities in partner countries.

Action on the ocean

Australia's international engagement on oceans is led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.

Ocean industries directly contribute at least $2.5 trillion to the global economy each year. Ecosystem services, such as carbon dioxide absorption, nutrient cycling and coastal protection, are estimated to be worth an addition $24 trillion globally each year. However, the ocean is under immense pressure. Up to fifty per cent of our planet’s coastal ecosystems have been lost over the last century, putting the health of our ocean, and its capacity to sustain future growth, at risk.

Pacific voices have demonstrated sustained and innovative leadership to push global ambition in responding to climate change. This includes: seeking advisory opinions from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and International Court of Justice on the obligations of States with respect to climate change; and establishing regional principles for to address complex and novel issues presented by climate change-related sea level rise, including in relation to maritime zones [PDF 71 KB] and statehood. 

We are committed to working with the Pacific to use the rules-based system to drive the changes we want to see in our region. Australia is co-facilitating with Cabo Verde the political declaration for the third United Nations Ocean Conference in 2025, co-chairing with Belize the Preparatory Commission for the high seas biodiversity treaty, and championing the development of sustainable ocean plans and the International Blue Carbon Partnership.

As a member of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), Australia is working with 18 world leaders to advocate for strong, practical solutions to help the world transition to a sustainable ocean economy where jobs are secured, ocean health is protected and prosperity is shared equitably. The national jurisdictions covered by the 19 world leaders on the Panel cover nearly 50 per cent of the world's oceans. Each leader is committed to sustainably managing 100 per cent of these waters by 2025.

Australia's Sustainable Ocean Plan will identify actions to grow our ocean economy and will play an important role in achieving the global target to protect 30 per cent of the world's coastal and marine areas by 2030.

On 20 September 2023, Australia joined likeminded nations, including Pacific island countries, in signing the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ; or High Seas Biodiversity Treaty). This was a remarkable multilateral achievement, and the culmination of nearly two decades of negotiations and discussions.

The International Partnership for Blue Carbon launched by Australia in 2015 is now a global network of over 55 partners, sharing knowledge, building awareness, and accelerating practical action. Australia's Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund also supports blue carbon restoration and conservation project developments in countries outside Australia and to catalyse for private sector investment.

We are also partnering with regional neighbours on coastal blue carbon protection and restoration, by funding Indian Ocean Rim Association Blue Carbon Hub programs ($1 million), and supporting the Pacific Blue Carbon Program ($6.3 million).

Australia was a founding member of the International Coral Reef Initiative, supports the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and is the Commonwealth Blue Charter Champion for Coral Reef Protection and Restoration Action Group. Australia also supports the ReefCloud open-access platform in the Pacific and beyond, which uses innovative technology and Artificial Intelligence to support coral reef management.

Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef is the largest global coral reef and was listed as a World Heritage site in 1981 for its outstanding universal value. It is also home for First Nations peoples – more than 70 Traditional Owner groups – whose connections date back more than 60,000 years. The Reef is facing significant threats, including from climate change. Australia is working with partners, and using the latest science to protect the reef into the future.

Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Australia is a partner in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, which brings together more than 100 partners to reduce and avoid emissions of fast acting pollutants, such as methane, hydrofluorocarbons and black carbon.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water leads Australia's engagement with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports vulnerable countries address a range of challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and is one of four key vertical climate funds.  The GEF and the newly established Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) finances country-driven initiatives that generate global benefits and supports countries meet their international obligations. The GEF partnership connects 186 member governments with civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and the private sector, and works closely with environmental financiers for efficiency and impact. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $25 billion and mobilised another $145 billion in co-financing for more than 5,000 national and regional projects, plus 27,000 community-led initiatives through its Small Grants Programme. The GEF supports the following international agreements:

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Minamata Convention on Mercury
• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Australia is a proud and long-standing supporter of the GEF since its inception and is a member of the GEF GBFF Council. Under the current GEF-8 replenishment (2022-26), Australia has committed $80 million.

Green Climate Fund (GCF)

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is world's largest multilateral climate fund and supports developing countries in achieving a reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions and an enhancement of their ability to respond to climate change. The GCF was established in 2010 as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It aims to make an ambitious contribution for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and its mitigation and adaptation goals by supporting the paradigm shift in developing countries towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.

Australia has also re-engaged with the Green Climate Fund with a $50 million contribution.

Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosure

Australia has been a strategic funder of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), a global initiative that has developed a risk management and disclosure framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is working closely with the private sector to showcase Australian leadership and drive engagement with the TNFD framework.

International Partnerships for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy

The International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE), formed in 2003, is an international governmental partnership currently consisting of 21 member countries and the European Commission. Australia is an active member of IPHE, including leading work with other members on methods to determine the carbon emissions from hydrogen production to support a future trade in clean hydrogen and its derivatives like ammonia. This informs the Australian Government's work to design and develop an internationally consistent Guarantee of Origin scheme for Australia.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water leads Australia's engagement with the International Partnership on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy.

Mission Innovation

Australia joined Mission Innovation, a group of countries committed to doubling governmental investment in clean energy innovation over five years, at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. Mission Innovation members are collaborating around a set of innovation challenges to accelerate technology breakthroughs in priority areas: smart grids; off-grid access to electricity; carbon capture and storage; sustainable biofuels; converting sunlight; clean energy materials; affordable heating and cooling of buildings; and hydrogen.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water leads Australia’s engagement with Mission Innovation.

International Renewable Energy Agency

Since its creation in 2011, Australia has been a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) which supports countries transition to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. Australia's engagement with IRENA helps us stay abreast of renewable energy policy developments and practical tools to accelerate renewable energy deployment. It connects us with a key forum for knowledge sharing and technology transfer in relation to clean, sustainable energy, and with other countries pursuing similar energy decarbonisation agendas to Australia. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water leads Australia's engagement with IRENA.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, aiming to promote the roll out of solar technology, particularly in countries that have high solar resources but under-developed electricity access. Australia is a founding member of the ISA and has committed to share its knowledge and expertise for capacity building with other ISA Members. For example, Australia is offering free tailored expert advice, webinars and training, and a library of tools and resources for policy development through the Clean Energy Solutions Centre.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water leads Australia’s engagement with the International Solar Alliance.