Labor attacked over lack of detail on climate targets

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was tight-lipped on Australia's new climate targets for 2035. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Labor has been slammed over its refusal to unveil Australia's 2035 climate targets, as Anthony Albanese indicates voters might not know ahead of the federal election. 

Pushed on what Australia's new targets will be, as required by the Paris climate agreement, the prime minister said it was required "sometime next year".

"Our focus is on achieving the 2030 target, because 2030 comes before 2035," he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.

Asked if voters deserved to know before they went to the polls in 2025, Mr Albanese said people knew what the government was doing on climate change, pointing to previous targets and commitments. 

Labor's 2030 target is to cut emissions by 43 per cent.

The Paris agreement, which Australia and 195 other parties adopted in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C and below 2C.

It only requires signatories to increase their emissions targets every five years and not water them down.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticised Mr Albanese for dodging questions.

"If the government's committing to a higher number, they should announce it before the election," he said.

Mr Dutton praised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for being "up front" by revealing a target of an 81 per cent cut on emissions by 2035.

"Where is the prime minister in his openness, honesty and transparency, people deserve to know before they vote," he said.

Mr Dutton has previously said the coalition remained committed to the Paris agreement, despite flagging plans to scrap Labor's 2030 target. 

Greens leader Adam Bandt said "Labor are climate frauds".

"Labor must stop lifting emissions and join the UK in pushing for strong action by 2035, otherwise we won’t stop global warming," he said.

"The only 2035 target consistent with a safe climate is net zero. At the climate summit, Labor must match and raise the UK’s climate ambition and give voters peace of mind that this government takes climate change seriously."

World leaders are attending the two-week COP29 UN climate conference, which began on Monday in Azerbaijan.

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