Albanese government says Australia on target to reduce emissions – but campaigners say it could do more

The uptake of wind energy to replace fossil fuel power is one of the reasons behind the reduction in Australia’s CO2 emissions. Photograph: PomInPerth/Shutterstock

The Australian government will claim it is on track to meet its legislated 43% emissions reduction target by 2030 after a departmental analysis found it had improved its position over the past year.

The government said annual emissions projections, based on an assessment of government policies and other trends, suggest national climate pollution would be at least 42.6% less than 2005 levels by the end of the decade, compared with 37% last year. The forecast included the impact of an underwriting scheme for new large-scale renewable energy and batteries, and vehicle efficiency standards that from next year require auto companies to start selling more zero and low-emissions cars.