Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland (EnvA) has made a detailed submission to the Climate Change Authority’s 2025 Issues Paper, calling for urgent action to align Australia’s climate policies with science and international commitments.
Our submission highlights that Australia’s current climate policies are not on track to meet legislated targets of a 43% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050, nor are they compatible with the Paris Agreement goal to limit warming to 1.5–2°C.
We urge the government to:
- Set a science-based 2035 emissions reduction target of at least 75% below 2005 levels, aiming for near net zero by 2035.
- Stop approving new or expanding coal and gas projects, which are incompatible with safe climate limits and threaten our international reputation.
- Amend the EPBC Act to include a climate trigger so that the impacts of emissions can be properly assessed.
- Reform the Safeguard Mechanism to close loopholes, reduce baselines more rapidly, and limit the use of offsets.
- End subsidies for fossil fuels and invest in a just transition for workers and regional communities.
The cost of inaction is growing. Climate disasters cost Australians over $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025 alone, and this figure could soar to $94 billion a year by 2060 without decisive action.
EnvA will continue to advocate for a fair, fast, and effective transition to clean energy that protects people, communities, and the natural environment.
EnvA - CQ 