Climate Regulations & Policy Documents
This page provides direct access to official climate-related regulatory documents applicable to Australia. All links lead to official government sources or authoritative international bodies. Documents are organised by jurisdiction and topic for easy navigation.
How Climate Regulations Fit Together
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International Frameworks
Federal Legislation
National Strategies
IPCC Reports
State & Territory Acts
Mandatory Disclosure
Regulatory Bodies
Australian Federal Legislation
Climate Change Act 2022
Legislates Australia's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050. Establishes advisory functions for the Climate Change Authority.
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (NGER Act)
Establishes Australia's national framework for tracking greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. Underpins the Safeguard Mechanism and provides the basis for corporate emissions reporting.
Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Act 2023
Reformed Safeguard Mechanism applying to facilities emitting more than 100,000 tonnes CO2-e per year. Requires facilities to reduce emissions on a trajectory consistent with Australia's 2030 and 2050 targets.
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011
Establishes the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme. Provides framework for earning carbon credits through emissions reduction and sequestration projects.
Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000
Establishes the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme. Sets target to deliver 33,000 GWh of renewable electricity annually from 2020 to 2030. Includes Large-scale RET (LRET) and Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
Mandatory Climate Disclosure Requirements
Note: Australia's mandatory climate-related financial disclosure regime commenced 1 January 2025. Entities must prepare sustainability reports in accordance with Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS).
Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS)
AASB-issued standards for climate disclosure, aligned with ISSB standards. Includes AASB S1 (General Requirements) and AASB S2 (Climate-related Disclosures).
Director's Guide to Mandatory Climate Reporting
AICD guidance on board responsibilities for climate-related financial disclosures under the new regime.
Treasury Policy Impact Analysis
Official Treasury analysis of the climate-related financial disclosure policy framework.
National Strategies & Plans
National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy 2021-2025
Sets out Australia's approach to building climate resilience across natural, built, social and economic domains. Three objectives: drive investment through collaboration, improve climate information, and assess progress.
Australia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2022
Australia's updated commitment under the Paris Agreement: 43% emissions reduction by 2030 (below 2005 levels) and net zero by 2050.
State & Territory Climate Legislation
New South Wales - Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023
Target: 70% reduction by 2035, net zero by 2050. Establishes Net Zero Commission.
Victoria - Climate Change Act 2017
Target: 75-80% reduction by 2035, net zero by 2045 (ahead of national target). First Australian state to legislate net zero.
Queensland - Climate Action Plan
Target: 75% reduction by 2035, net zero by 2050. Includes Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy 2017-2030.
South Australia - Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007
One of Australia's earliest state climate laws. Target: net zero by 2050.
Western Australia - Climate Policy
Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategies. Target: net zero by 2050.
ACT - Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010
Target: net zero by 2045. ACT achieved 100% renewable electricity in 2020.
International Agreements & Frameworks
Paris Agreement (2015)
Legally binding international treaty on climate change. Goal: limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C. Australia ratified in 2016.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The foundational international climate treaty (1992). Australia was an original signatory. Established the framework for subsequent agreements including Kyoto and Paris.
Kyoto Protocol
First binding emissions reduction commitment (1997). Australia ratified in 2007. Set emissions reduction targets for developed countries.
IPCC Assessment Reports
About IPCC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides the scientific basis for climate policy worldwide. Their Assessment Reports represent the most comprehensive review of climate science.
AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023
The most comprehensive assessment of climate change. Synthesizes findings from all AR6 Working Groups. Approved March 2023.
AR6 Working Group Reports
Detailed assessments covering physical science (WGI), impacts and adaptation (WGII), and mitigation (WGIII).
Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5°C
Landmark 2018 report on the impacts of 1.5°C warming and required pathways to limit warming to this level.
Australian Regulatory Bodies
Climate Change Authority
Independent advisory body on climate policy and targets
climatechangeauthority.gov.auFederal Register of Legislation
Official source for all Australian federal legislation
legislation.gov.auQuick Reference: Australia's Climate Targets
(below 2005 levels)
(National Target)
by 2030
disclosure commenced
Last updated: December 2025. Links verified at time of publication. For the most current versions, always check the official sources.