Summary

Introduced with the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021, the bill: sets a target of achieving net zero emissions by 31 December 2050; aims to reduce net accounting emissions by 60% on 2005 levels by 2030; establishes the Climate Change Commission and provides for its functions, powers, membership and staffing; prescribes a number of guiding principles to which decision makers under the Act must have regard; requires the commission to periodically complete a national climate change assessment (national assessment); requires the minister to prepare a national adaptation plan in response to each national assessment; requires the minister, by legislative instrument, to set an emissions budget for each prescribed emissions budget period; requires the minister to prepare an emissions reduction plan setting out the policies and strategies for meeting each emissions budget; ensures rural and regional Australia shares in the economic benefits from the transition to a net zero emissions economy; and establishes the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Climate Adaptation and Mitigation and provides for its powers, proceedings and functions.