UN urges Australia to step up climate action

28/7/2025 17:46

The United Nations climate chief has called on Australia to set an ambitious 2035 emissions target and accelerate its clean energy transition, warning a failure to act risks eroding living standards and regional stability.



Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said Australia should "go for what’s smart by going big".



"Don’t settle for what’s easy. Bog standard is beneath you," he said at a Smart Energy Council event in Sydney.



Australia faces scrutiny for backing new fossil fuel projects while seeking to co-host the UN COP31 climate summit with the Pacific next year.