Australia is one of the world’s highest per capita carbon emitters. The target brings the country more in line with other developed economies’ Paris climate accord commitments. Anthony Albanese has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030, up from the previous conservative government’s target of between 26% and 28%. Australia has suffered severe drought, historic bushfires, successive years of record-breaking floods, and six mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef. Are the targets just on paper?

