Michael Slezak, ABC's national science, technology and environment reporter is speaking on News Channel.

He says Chris Bowen was upfront about the fact that Labor is not quite at its 43 per cent target by 2030.

"[Mr Bowen] said he is pleased with where we are out but not satisfied, he also addresses criticism that their targets are too weak.

 "For example, climate scientists have pointed out that to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees about preindustrial levels, we should reduce emissions by about 74 per cent by 2030, not 43 per cent.

"He noted that and said some say we need to do more but released at the same time as a stripper was the Climate Change Authority's advice about how to get to those targets and he said, this shows how much work that was to do to get to our own targets.

"He's saying, there is so much to do, yes, we should do more but let's try to focus on this first."