Australia’s updated 2035 climate target of 62-70% represents another step forward on paper but Solar Citizens says that the real challenge now is implementation.
“Targets don’t cut carbon – action does,” said Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO of Solar Citizens. “If we transition to renewable energy and cut carbon emissions, people are better off in their daily lives – paying less for power, breathing cleaner air, and seeing communities thrive.”
The Story So Far
Global climate negotiations have already shifted the trajectory from a catastrophic 4.5°C to 2.7°C. But we remain far from the 1.5°C goal. The new Climate Targets must become more than numbers – they must be tied to real sectoral and investment plans that cut emissions at speed and scale.
Accelerating Solutions
Solar Citizens calls on the government to prioritise solutions that are proven, popular, fair and fast to deliver.
In Australia, rooftop solar is a global success story, with 4.2 million households slashing bills and cutting pollution. [1] Paired with batteries and orchestrated through virtual power plants, this distributed energy revolution could be doubled by 2035.
“Rooftop solar plus storage is the fastest, fairest way to deliver on our climate targets. It’s already working, it saves households money, and it brings down costs across the energy grid,” said Douglas.
“On a day to day basis, mortgage-belt families care about bills more than carbon emissions, but this is the solution that delivers both.”
Building the Platform of Solutions
The Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency (also known as the ‘Dubai’ pledge) to triple renewables and double efficiency, must also translate into national acceleration plans. [2]
Australia has the chance to lead by example by:
- Scaling rooftop solar and storage (alongside large-scale renewables),
- Redirecting fossil fuel subsidies into clean energy and resilience,
- Partnering with First Nations peoples and Pacific neighbours in designing a fair transition,
- Linking climate targets to sectoral plans that future-proof jobs and the economy beyond coal and gas.
Looking Ahead to COP31
As Australia prepares to host the COP31 global climate conference, the world will be looking for delivery – not just declarations.
“The next COPs must be about accelerating what works,” said Douglas. “That means matching pledges with policies, and policies with real-world solutions people can see, feel and benefit from in their homes and communities.”
NOTES
[1] Clean Energy Council Rooftop Solar & Storage Biannual Report, 15 September 2025
[2] Global Pledge on Renewables & Energy Efficiency, COP28, December 2023