Community Sector Statement on 2035 Climate Change Pollution Reduction Target

Rapidly worsening climate change is hurting our communities. Our sector is on the frontline, helping communities respond to the impacts of more intense and frequent bushfires, drought, floods, storms, and heatwaves.

We have seen firsthand the increasing devastation of these impacts on people and communities, to their mental and physical health, homes, jobs, general quality of life and sadly loss of life.  

People experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation are impacted first, worse, and longest because they have access to fewer resources to cope, adapt and recover.  

The climate change crisis is exposing them to greater levels of harm and disadvantage, and is posing a particular threat to First Nations communities and to the future of our young people. 

Without fast, fair and inclusive action on climate change, these threats will continue to worsen. 

Australia has committed to the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to well below 2C and pursue limiting it to a rise of 1.5C. Scientists have warned that if we fail to limit warming to 1.5C there will be increased risks of abrupt irreversible change, and the number of people exposed to climate change impacts and poverty. 

The Paris Agreement requires all countries to soon submit their emission reduction targets for 2035.  

To keep global warming at 1.5 degrees and do our fair share,¹ the science² says Australia should aim to reduce emissions to net zero by 2035. 2050 is too late. 

While we recognise there will be challenges, so many of the solutions we need are already here. From large scale renewables to more energy efficient and electric homes, workplaces, industry and transport. 

Meeting this goal will require governments working more inclusively with communities, the community sector, industry, unions and others. It will require sharing the benefits more equitably than before, prioritising people and communities experiencing disadvantage. It will require First Nations’ self-determination, consent, partnerships and participation. And it will require accelerating action now. 

Fast, fair and inclusive action on climate change can create new economic opportunities, healthier communities, more affordable energy and sustainable employment. 

We call on the federal government to aim to reduce emissions to net zero by 2035 and implement fair, equitable and inclusive climate change policies.

¹ Under the UNFCCC, States came to an agreement that developed countries contributed more to climate change and should have greater responsibility for climate change mitigation than developing countries should.

² In 2021, Professors Will Steffen, Lesley Hughes, Malte Meinshausen, and John Hewson (the Climate Targets Panel) concluded that to align with a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C, Australia should reduce its emissions to 74% below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2035. Noting this analysis allowed Australia a larger share of the global budget than would be recognised as our fair share.