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The nation, ranked as the planet's biggest polluters per capita, will aim to reduce its greenhouse gases by a minimum of 62% compared to 2005 levels over the coming ten years.

The nation – which has received worldwide criticism for its continued reliance on non-renewable energy – had before committed to cut carbon emissions by 43% by 2030.

"We are introducing a realistic goal supported by evidence and a practical roadmap to achieve it, built on tested methods," the nation's leader announced when unveiling the revised target.

A landmark scientific study prepared for the government recently alerted that Australia was heading toward a scenario of more severe environmental disasters as a consequence of man-made climate change.

Global Climate Accord Obligation

Setting a target to lower emissions from 2005 levels is a requirement under the country's commitment under the international accord.

The revised commitment is in line with an carbon cutting benchmark – of between 62% and 70% – that was recommended by the official climate panel, a government body which provides environmental recommendations.

The prime minister will formalize the pledge at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

Climate Impacts Already Underway

The nation, like much of the world, has faced an increasing number of environmentally-driven weather extremes in the past decade including severe dry spells, unprecedented wildfires and successive years of extreme floods.

Rising ocean temperatures have also led to mass whitening at its iconic coral ecosystem in northern Australia and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Research into the consequences of global warming – unprecedented in the nation – revealed that Australia had already reached heating of above 1.5°C and that all populations would be protected against "cascading, accumulating and simultaneous" environmental threats.

Experts alerted that if the government failed to take enhanced action there would be an increase in extreme heat fatalities, reduced water quality due to severe flooding and wildfires, and sea level rises that would endanger a million and a half people.

It also warned of a significant financial decline in property values as a result of these risks.

Partisan Debates

Yet, the nation's climate agenda and its aim to attain net zero emissions by 2050 are still debated issues.

The country's main rival, the Liberal National coalition, is reviewing whether it should continue to back the net zero emissions goal, while other parliamentarians – including many crossbench and Greens MPs – are calling for quicker cuts.

Following the election of the sitting administration in 2022, it established more ambitious environmental objectives, up from the earlier goal of between 26% and 28%.

The government has aimed to make Australia a "clean power hub", but has also persisted greenlighting coal and gas projects.

In recent days, among the country's biggest energy initiatives was authorized to continue production for another 40 years, in a decision that was strongly criticized by climate experts and climate activists.