Strengthening Australia’s Path to Net Zero: NELA’s submission to the Climate Change Authority

NELA has welcomed the opportunity to provide a submission to the Climate Change Authority (CCA) as part of its 2025 Annual Progress Report consultation. The submission focuses on how Australia can strengthen its approach to achieving net zero in accordance with international law.

NELA’s submission highlights the implications of two landmark decisions — the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Obligations (2025) and the Federal Court’s decision in Pabai Pabai v Commonwealth (2025) — both of which clarify how States must exercise stringent due diligence in setting and implementing emissions reduction targets.

NELA recommends that Australia’s approach to net zero be explicitly aligned with the 1.5°C temperature goal under the Paris Agreement, supported by regulatory mechanisms that achieve deep, rapid and sustained emissions reductions. The submission also calls for reforms to ensure Environmental Impact Assessments account for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, and cautions that continued support for fossil fuel projects may be inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under international law.

The full submission can be found here.