Opened the debate
Hodgins-May argued that Australia needed to submit a robust nationally determined contribution for 2035 to meet Paris Agreement goals. The senator stated that state and territory targets already projected a drop in emissions of between 66 per cent and 71 per cent, meaning a federal target below 71 per cent would constitute a failure of national leadership. Hodgins-May emphasised the moral and legal duty to Pacific neighbours, citing recent International Court of Justice rulings on fossil fuel export liability. The senator called for the government to end subsidies for polluting industries and adopt a fossil-fuel non-proliferation pledge. Hodgins-May also highlighted the lack of climate targets in Western Australia and supported local Greens efforts to address this gap.