Australia

General

Very poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very good

Electricity and heat

Very poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very good

Industry

Very poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very good

Buildings

Very poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very good

Land transport

Very poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very good

Agriculture and forestry

Very poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very good

The matrix below provides an overview of what constitutes comprehensive climate policy coverage (details are provided here). The options were identified based on policies that are generally agreed to contribute to emissions reductions (IPCC, 2014), represent sector-level example policies, which have been successful in specific contexts (UNFCCC, 2018; UNEP, 2019), or are expected to result in sufficient sectoral transformation to achieve emissions reductions (Mitchell et al., 2011; GEA, 2012; OECD/IEA and IRENA, 2017; IEA, 2018, 2019). For a complete list of climate policies in this country, see the table at the bottom of the page.

Legend:

At least one policy in force

No policy in force

Not applicable

Policy option	Related policies	Change activity	Energy efficiency	Renewables	Other low carbon	Non-energy
Climate strategy	Greenhouse Office Australia (1998) Nationally Determined Contribution - NDC Australia (2022)
GHG reduction target	Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan Australia (2020) Nationally Determined Contribution - NDC Australia (2022) Climate Change Act Australia (2022) Kigali Amendment on HFCs Australia (2017)
Coordinating body for climate strategy	Greenhouse Office Australia (1998)
No fossil fuel subsidies	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Support for low-emission and negative emissions RD&D	Accelerated Step Change Initiative (ASCI) Australia (2013) Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Australia (2012) Climate Change Authority Act Australia (2011) Emerging Renewables Program Australia (2011) Emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles Australia (2009) Industrial Energy efficiency Data Analysis Project Australia (2012) National Climate Change Adaptation Framework Australia (2002) Research and Development (R&D) Program Australia (2014) Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund Australia (2011) Sustainable Housing Australia (2002)
Economy-wide energy efficiency target	Energy Productivity Plan Australia (2015)
Renewable target for primary energy	Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy Australia (2023)

Policy option	Related policies	Change activity	Energy efficiency	Renewables	Other low carbon	Non-energy
Support for highly efficient power plant stock	Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act Australia (2012) Product Emissions Standards Act Australia (2017)
Energy reduction obligation schemes	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Renewable energy target for electricity sector	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Support scheme for renewables	Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act Australia (2012) Emerging Renewables Program Australia (2011) Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act Australia (2000) Solar Communities Program Australia (2016) Snowy 2.0 Australia (2019) Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund Australia (2021) Federal Budget 2021-22 Australia (2021) Federal Budget 2022-23 Australia (2022) Capacity Investment Scheme Australia (2023)
Grid infrastructure development and electricity storage	Snowy 2.0 Australia (2019) Capacity Investment Scheme Australia (2023)
Coal and oil phase-out policies	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Support scheme for CCS	CCS Flagships Programme Australia (2009)
Support for non-renewable low-carbon alternatives	CCS Flagships Programme Australia (2009) Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act Australia (2012) Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs Program Australia (2021) Federal Budget 2021-22 Australia (2021) Federal Budget 2022-23 Australia (2022) Hydrogen Headstart Australia (2023)
Overarching carbon pricing scheme	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Energy and other taxes	Country has not adopted this policy option.

Policy option	Related policies	Change activity	Energy efficiency	Renewables	Other low carbon	Non-energy
Strategy for material efficiency	National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure Australia (1998) National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act Australia (2007) Safeguard Mechanism Australia (2016) Product Emissions Standards Act Australia (2017)
Support for energy efficiency in industrial production	Energy Efficient Communities Program - Businesses Australia (2019) Energy Efficient Communities Program - Community Organisations Australia (2019) Global Methane Initiative Australia (2010) National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act Australia (2007)
Energy reporting and audits	Energy Efficient Communities Program - Community Organisations Australia (2019) National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting System (NGERS) Australia (2007) National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act Australia (2007)
Performance and equipment standards	Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act Australia (2012) Product Emissions Standards Act Australia (2017)
Support scheme for renewables	National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act Australia (2007) Federal Budget 2021-22 Australia (2021)
Support scheme for CCS	CCS Flagships Programme Australia (2009)
Support scheme for fuel switch	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Carbon dioxide removal technology development	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Incentives to reduce CH4 from fuel exploration and production	Code of Practice for Leak Management, Detection and Reporting for Petroleum Operating Plant (QLD) Australia (2018) Code of Practice: Onshore Petroleum Activities in the Northern Territory Australia (2019)
Incentives to reduce landfill CH4	National Food Waste Strategy Australia (2017)
Incentives to reduce N2O from industrial processes	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Incentives to reduce F-gases	HFC emissions reduction target Australia (2016) Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act Australia (1989) Kigali Amendment on HFCs Australia (2017)
Overarching carbon pricing scheme or emissions limit	National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) Australia (2010)
Energy and other taxes	Country has not adopted this policy option.

Policy option	Related policies	Change activity	Energy efficiency	Renewables	Other low carbon	Non-energy
Urban planning strategies	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Building codes and standards as well as support for highly efficient construction	10 Star NatHERS Rating for Buildings Australia (2015) Building Code (Class 2 to Class 9 Buildings) Australia (2017) National Construction Code Australia (2022)
Performance and equipment standards as well as support for highly efficient appliances	Solar Cooling Standard Australia (2019) Energy Rating Labels on Space Heating Appliances Australia (2019) Equipment Energy efficiency Program (E3) Australia (1992) Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act Australia (2012) Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning High Efficiency Systems Strategy (HVAC HESS) Australia (2007) MEPS - Compact Fluorescent Lamps Australia (2019) NABERS (the National Built Environment Rating System) Australia (2005) Phase Out of Inefficient Lightbulbs Australia (2007)
Support scheme for heating and cooling	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Support scheme for hot water and cooking	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Energy and other taxes	Fuel Tax Reform Australia (2006)

Policy option	Related policies	Change activity	Energy efficiency	Renewables	Other low carbon	Non-energy
Urban planning and infrastructure investment	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Energy/emissions performance standards or support for energy efficient light-duty vehicles	Emissions standards for light-duty vehicles Australia (2012) Fuel Tax Reform Australia (2006)
Energy/emissions performance standards or support for energy efficient heavy-duty vehicles	Emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles Australia (2009) Fuel Tax Reform Australia (2006) Road User Charge Australia (2006)
Support scheme for biofuels	Fuel Tax Reform Australia (2006) Road User Charge Australia (2006)
Support for modal share switch	National Strategy for Electric Vehicles Australia (2019) National Electric Vehicle Strategy Australia (2023)
Support for low-emissions land transportation	Fleet Incentive Australia (2015) National Strategy for Electric Vehicles Australia (2019) Future Fuels Fund Australia (2021) National Electric Vehicle Strategy Australia (2023)
Tax on fuel and/or emissions	Fuel Tax Reform Australia (2006) Road User Charge Australia (2006)

Policy option	Related policies	Change activity	Energy efficiency	Renewables	Other low carbon	Non-energy
Standards and support for sustainable agricultural practices and use of agricultural products	The National Landcare Programme Australia (1990) Product Emissions Standards Act Australia (2017) Federal Budget 2021-22 Australia (2021)
Incentives to reduce CO2 emissions from agriculture	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Incentives to reduce CH4 emissions from agriculture	Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock (MERiL) program Australia (2022)
Incentives to reduce N2O emissions from agriculture	Country has not adopted this policy option.
Incentives to reduce deforestation and enhance afforestation and reforestation	Growing a Better Australia – A Billion Trees for Jobs and Growth Australia (2018)
Sustainability standards for biomass use	Country has not adopted this policy option.

Policy name	Sector	Policy type	Decision date
National Electric Vehicle Strategy Australia (2023)	Transport Low-emissions mobility	Other low-carbon technologies and fuel switch	2023
Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy Australia (2023)	General	Energy efficiency Energy service demand reduction and resource efficiency Non-energy use Other low-carbon technologies and fuel switch Renewables	2023
Capacity Investment Scheme Australia (2023)	Electricity and heat Renewables	Renewables	2023
Annual Climate Change Statement Australia (2023)	General	Energy efficiency Energy service demand reduction and resource efficiency Non-energy use Other low-carbon technologies and fuel switch Renewables	2023
Hydrogen Headstart Australia (2023)	Electricity and heat Industry	Other low-carbon technologies and fuel switch	2023
Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act Australia (2022)	Electricity and heat Renewables	Renewables	2022
Nationally Determined Contribution - NDC Australia (2022)	General	Energy efficiency Energy service demand reduction and resource efficiency Non-energy use Other low-carbon technologies and fuel switch Renewables	2022

154

164

Policy coverage:

Policy matrix and sectoral coverage

List of climate policies in Australia

Australia policies

Distribution across mitigation areas