Australia sets 2035 emissions target and plans for Net Zero
Australia has announced that it aims to reduce emissions by between 62 and 70 per cent by 2035 when compared to 2005 levels. The revised targets are supported by the Climate Change Authority’s 2035 Emissions Reduction Targets Advice.
The Australian government has also released Treasury modelling and analysis which examines the impact of the net zero transformation on Australia and provides insights into the economic opportunities from different pathways. This report was prepared to support the development of the Government’s Net Zero Plan and sector plans. The Industry Net Zero Sector Plan provides an overview of the pathway for how the nine (9) subsectors that represent Australia’s manufacturing and waste sectors will contribute to meeting the 2030, 2035 and 2050 emissions targets, and is primarily focused on the decarbonisation of scope 1 (direct) emissions. The Industry Sector Plan has three (3) principles: to meaningfully reduce emissions; maintain and grow competitive industries and deliver a just and equitable transition. These principles lean on existing measures including the Safeguard Mechanism, the Future Made in Australia agenda and the Net Zero Economy Authority. In support the Government has announced new funding to support the net zero transition. This includes: a $5 billion Net Zero Fund in the National Reconstruction Fund to help industrial facilities decarbonise and scale up more renewables and low emissions manufacturing, $2 billion to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support the rapid roll-out of renewable projects and $1.1 billion to produce low carbon liquid fuels in Australia.
Expansion of embedded battery collection and recycling in NSW
The NSW EPA has expanded its embedded batteries trial with an additional 13 Community Recycling Centres joining the trial, which is proposed to run until September 2026.
Victorian government to develop guide for minimising pollution and waste
The Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has commenced development of a guide that will help industry minimise pollution and waste. The initiative aims to help organisations understand how to identify climate-related pollution and waste risks, assess the potential impact of those risks and minimise those risks in line with the general environmental duty. EPA has commenced public consultation and will release final guidance documents, along with responses to public comments in mid-2026.
Developing stewardship for white goods
The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence (PSCoE) in partnership with the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), has investigated stewardship pathways for whitegoods in order to improve the circularity for products such as refrigerators, freezers, dryers, dishwashers and washing machines. The project focused on how to improve the low material and gas recovery rates and better understand the appetite and opportunities for stewardship initiatives.
A full copy of the report can be found at Stewardship Solutions for White Goods – Centre of Excellence
From the desk at The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has recently published the following:
- Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan – which has been described as an ‘understand and assess’ step, whilst the Adaptation Plan represents the ‘prioritise and plan’ step in the cycle for adapting to climate change.
- Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024-2030 implementation plan, to help guide actions from governments, business, non-government organisations and communities.
- Notice that the current Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Regulations will expire on 1 April 2026. The remake will retain the existing structure and content of the EPBC Regulations, with only minor corrections to improve clarity and maintain relevance. It’s important to note that this process is separate from the broader reforms to the EPBC Act.