---
title: Australia ranks last on climate as even biggest corporate polluters outstrip government commitments
description: As Coalition infighting rages on, a new report has ranked Australia last on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and moving beyond fossil fuels.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Australia ranks last on climate as even biggest corporate polluters outstrip government commitments
Thursday, 21 October 2021
As Coalition infighting on climate commitments rages on, a new report from the Climate Council has ranked Australia dead last when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and moving beyond fossil fuels.
Mining giant Rio Tinto has unveiled plans for investments in wind and solar under its newly announced plans to spend $7.5 billion slashing its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by half by 2030. Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s REenergise Campaign Director Lindsay Soutar said Rio's announcement is a sign of progress, but the resources behemoth must go further.
The United Nations Environment Program has analysed government projections around the world and found that fossil fuels would be generated at a rate almost three times higher than what's needed to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, despite climate targets being ramped up.
[‘A joke if it wasn’t so serious’: Australia lags developed countries on climate action](https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/a-joke-if-it-wasn-t-so-serious-australia-lags-on-climate-action-20211020-p591mq.html)
No Australian federal government “policies or discourses” were found to be designed to help manage a wind-down of local fossil fuel production, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Program. Meanwhile, a separate Climate Council report reveals Australia has the worst track record on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and pledging to phase out fossil fuels of all developed countries.
[Rio Tinto plans massive 7GW wind and solar for smelters and iron ore mines](https://reneweconomy.com.au/rio-tinto-plans-massive-7gw-wind-and-solar-for-smelters-and-iron-ore-mines/)
Mining giant Rio Tinto has unveiled plans for investments in wind and solar under its new plans to spend $7.5 billion slashing its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by half by 2030. Greenpeace’s Lindsay Soutar said the biggest polluters in the country are now outstripping the Federal Government in their climate commitments.
[Fossil fuel production to soar in face of emissions pledges, United Nations report says](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-20/united-nations-fossil-fuel-gap-report-australia-data/100551662)
Despite climate targets being ramped up, the United Nations Environment Program has analysed the projections of governments around the world and found that fossil fuels would be generated at a rate almost three times higher than what's needed to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
[‘Protectionist forces’: Dan Tehan warns Australian farmers face carbon border taxes](https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/protectionist-forces-dan-tehan-warns-australian-farmers-face-carbon-border-taxes-20211020-p591ip.html)
Trade Minister Dan Tehan warns Australian farmers and miners will be slapped with carbon border taxes and local businesses may not be able to secure finance if Australia doesn’t commit to a net zero emissions target by 2050, as his Nationals colleagues debate whether to support the plan.
[COP26 summit: Vladimir Putin withdraws from climate conference](http://link.newsletter.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=76fKcEeh4PVItpSA9Cs-2FOEMGnd77r-2F-2FG-2BxtUbsljffpy5QYhZSdg-2Bu1kme3NZOjpgUn8VC2l06kHYWQ8Z8oSBFbj4D1dCXLsHDKy3are5Et1nLB3KgBtdV2KN1hYxOoRMBSjYpmuIcH4hzvt9lYHEIRlxqdidI2j3kHem9i0v67eD0Bd0wmoZaG0FLPX73nzI6b0lfMcsyBG3lWu-2F6BcnPw-2BZ-2FfdiyUK6tfkCu4KWqKJ9BtEww9JDyRa3y5crRb-2FFgXnhBBwE8eufnGTOP1AtrMPq5TQdcS0-2ByaivVswswHHv3rIkArtY7WcYM2Wd9uRzWdwy-2BdnfJz-2BuDIMQZrKbQqcP1ccoXEbdy5A0TMahLWQ6PGVDwOLf1RR8oXMZhvKpCL7f8b4CAUFYZkSss-2BEKiCoSvcNoSaV6UjSNNoX94d8kGDU2HbmyM1V1EYHcicYKTGv6PcrI5PqBYph3AnZDjGjziBTWEJBKDKzCmjhdfqDjY-2Ft3Mw77-2B6-2FC1B3RhUl7cnXiSzWpqvC3Miy3DLz4usCJ88YOlOFuqD1Z5nTLgvDMfuiIS6ieEaUfFhviIJATwseRY1f1ZhFapqvTg6SpzuMF-2F3ntTnulvVguQVpsWD5QhYsZvktcWi0GYQF-2BxUSmlsMwZ6euurYeVvxP548MUIzsOiBNKT-2F0uNvFaPak84EQnBezzkgu6djstP-2BMATD-2FS8xGpcP02yGTzLaag-2BWfA-3D-3DVgeo_44mXV-2BfQ3Zh9sc-2BX19-2FrIeD7P-2BoFLf-2FedQGY-2FUnVzov3awt8Soc3nIhIoILU4-2Bduc15nOZYC7MLMmERXAdTZkS2D8OfGVrpzk4Gs4W7cYp-2BozCT2IMQv2Y5pnozQjxd2EtMRteN20tqc-2FKM965SZaloQ5TQU4YvGlBMmlku4odaFMc-2FOIqBPfj-2BqF-2BDU7D6p8GULoBdC9t1zzz-2FBwt8wm3ygcCIIZF7sI5S-2BlbdjB-2BqRcIjpw4zNBS8WsnbV0lzEGjvSr7aalwZshSkZs1eaQKDhiZWm3ZIrn-2Fi-2FlCVlghjVCG0w50nZYm-2BQXfeIsQbMQDz7RU6yDQGher3E1iHzo8Uf9SgrI9UT4eCFM-2FHZhGPoHAaU7Ulicp2ohi30ad3m)
Russian president Vladimir Putin has withdrawn from attending the climate change conference COP26, adding to the difficulties of world leaders to agree to any breakthrough initiative in Glasgow.
[Mike Cannon-Brookes pledges $1.5b to climate initiatives ahead of COP26](https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/mike-cannon-brookes-pledges-1-5b-to-climate-initiatives-ahead-of-cop26-20211020-p591p5.html)
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes and wife Annie have pledged to donate and invest $1.5 billion on climate projects by 2030 to reinforce the COP26 goal of spurring global action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
[Empire Energy wins full approval for more fracking in Beetaloo Basin as climate advocates slam NT government](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-20/empire-energy-beetaloo-fracking-approved-climate-concerns/100554048)
The gas company at the centre of a legal challenge to a multi-million-dollar subsidy program for fracking in the Beetaloo Basin has won full approval to start work, following its previous $21 million in federal government grants to speed up the development of the basin under the Coalition's "gas-led recovery" plan.
[Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [COP26](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/cop26)
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-ranks-last-on-climate-as-even-biggest-corporate-polluters-outstrip-government-commitments%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-ranks-last-on-climate-as-even-biggest-corporate-polluters-outstrip-government-commitments%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-ranks-last-on-climate-as-even-biggest-corporate-polluters-outstrip-government-commitments%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australia-ranks-last-on-climate-as-even-biggest-corporate-polluters-outstrip-government-commitments%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### [Australian government caught in coal cover-up](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australian-government-caught-in-coal-cover-up)
The Morrison Government actively lobbied for the rejection of findings outlining the need for rapid...
### [States to oppose Morrison's CoalKeeper proposal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/states-to-oppose-morrisons-coalkeeper-proposal)
In today’s news, the Morrison Government will face pressure the states over its plans to slug...
### [Lump of coal PM spruiks economic benefits of climate action](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/lump-of-coal-pm-spruiks-economic-benefits-of-climate-action)
The PM is desperately trying to assure reluctant National Party members that most of what the...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)