The International Energy Agency (IEA) has recognised the Albanese government's commitment to tackling climate change, highlighting its key initiatives in a recent report. 

The report also includes a quote from the climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen, who expressed his pleasure with the IEA's assessment.

One of the most significant initiatives noted by the IEA is Australia's 43 per cent target for emissions reduction. The target was set in a revised 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted by the Australian government in June 2022, which also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 in the Climate Change Act 2022.

According to the IEA report, Australia's target brings it in line with the emissions reductions pledged by other advanced economies and is more closely aligned with a trajectory compatible with the Paris Agreement. 

The report also praised other initiatives such as the National Energy Transformation Partnership, Rewiring the Nation, Capacity Investment Scheme, National Energy Performance Strategy, and Safeguard Mechanism reforms.

The report urged Australia to develop a whole-of-government just energy transition strategy at both the federal and state and territory levels, which will secure job opportunities and skills for the transition and gain the social licence to construct and operate the necessary infrastructure.

The IEA report also commended Australia for its efforts to reskill and create jobs under the forthcoming Energy Workforce Strategy, which will transform the country's energy and mineral resources sector into higher value products for exports, create new manufacturing jobs, and produce export-ready technologies.

Minister Chris Bowen welcomed the IEA's recommendations and praised the Albanese government's action on climate change and energy, which aims to achieve 82 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. 

Bowen said the National Electric Vehicle Strategy, National Energy Productivity Strategy, and National Building Code reforms would all play a vital role in helping Australia achieve strong climate and energy ambitions.

The IEA report's recommendations could provide the Albanese government with a roadmap to achieve its climate goals, which will ultimately benefit both the environment and the Australian economy.

The full report is accessible here.