Australia has announced a target to reduce emissions by 62 to 70 percent from 2005 levels by 2035. This goal aligns with recommendations from the independent Climate Change Authority (CCA). However, the government has not established a specific renewable energy target to support this climate objective.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen clarified that while the CCA and Treasury suggested Australia would need over 90 percent renewable energy coverage to meet the emissions reduction goal, this was not a formal target. Bowen stated, "We haven't set a particular target. What we have done is set our emissions reduction target."

Currently, Australia has a renewable energy target of 82 percent by 2030. Achieving this will require significant acceleration in renewable energy deployment. Bowen expressed confidence in meeting this target but acknowledged the challenges ahead. "Once we get to 82 percent renewable energy in 2030, which I am working towards achieving, and have some confidence we will achieve, then we'll keep going," he said. He noted that reaching such a high percentage would require ongoing efforts as "the low-hanging fruit disappears."

On Sunday, Environment Minister Murray Watt announced that the Albanese government had approved its 100th renewable energy project. He emphasized the need for continued support for renewable energy to meet the ambitious 2035 target. "Our country needs to continue supporting the rapid rollout of renewables to meet our ambitious and achievable 2035 target," Watt stated.

Bowen also refrained from committing to the CCA's projections that wind power would need to quadruple and rooftop solar would need to double. He described these figures as "a possibility," not a policy. "What [the CCA] did in their report to me, quite rightly, is ran through some of the possibilities as to what achieving [the emissions target] might look like," he explained.

Bowen is currently in New York with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a UN summit, where Australia will present its new emissions target. Despite criticism from environmental groups regarding the sufficiency of the target, Bowen asserted that it aligns with the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To meet even the lower end of the emissions reduction target, significant increases in solar and wind power capacity, electric vehicle adoption, and an extension of the safeguard mechanism will be necessary, according to the CCA. Bowen remarked, "Maximum possible effort is what's required. You can look at the IPCC, over the last few reports, which said 68 percent from the world is what's required. That's well within our target range."

He added that the government would not set a target for electric vehicle sales, despite the CCA projecting a 20-fold increase would be needed within a decade. Additionally, Australia is in negotiations with Türkiye regarding hosting rights for next year's climate summit. Bowen noted that Australia has "overwhelming support for its bid," but the process is stalled due to UN rules requiring consensus. "We have discussions with our Turkish friends this week … This situation hasn't really changed for a while," he said.