Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) 2020

# Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 **What it does** This bill creates a legal framework to tackle climate change through two main approaches: helping Australia adapt to climate impacts (like floods and droughts) and reducing emissions. It also establishes an independent Climate Change Commission to oversee progress and give the government expert advice on targets and plans. **Why it matters** Right now, Australia doesn't have a coordinated national plan for dealing with climate risks or a legally binding emissions reduction target. This bill would lock in actual targets and require the government to publish detailed plans showing how it'll meet them—making climate action harder to quietly abandon when governments change. **Key details** - **A new independent commission**: A dedicated body (staffed by experts, not politicians) would assess climate risks, recommend emissions targets, and report publicly on whether Australia's hitting its goals - **Mandatory adaptation and reduction plans**: Ministers would be required to prepare and table specific plans in Parliament, with progress reports so the public can track what's actually happening - **Emissions budgets**: Rather than vague promises, the government would set legal "budgets" for how much Australia can emit over set periods, with independent advice on whether targets are realistic

🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament