Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: Origin Energy is strategically engaged on climate policy and demonstrates engagement that is partially aligned with policy pathways aiming to deliver the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. It appears to be broadly supportive of the need for ambitious action to respond to climate change in Australia, however, the company holds a mixture of positive and negative positions on science-aligned climate-related policy measures, while its position on the long-term role for fossil fuels, particularly fossil gas, does not appear to be aligned with the IPCC guidance.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Origin Energy's top-line communications are supportive of ambitious action on climate change. In its comments to the Climate Change Authority in July 2023, Origin stated that it supports the aim to limit the world’s temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and advocated for an ambitious 2035 Australian nationally determined contribution (NDC). In its 2024 Sustainability Report, published in August 2024, the company stated support for climate change policy.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Origin appears to have mixed engagement with specific climate-related policies. In its June 2024 comments on the Safeguard Mechanism – best practice emissions intensities, Origin stated support for Australia’s emission reduction targets of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030. Origin has also repeatedly supported a vehicle efficiency standard in Australia including May 2024 comments on the Climate Change Authority's 2024 Issues paper and in March 2024 comments on the parliamentary inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles. In July 2024 comments on Unlocking Australia’s Green Metal Opportunity, the company stated support for sustainable fuel mandates, advocating for European policies such as ReFuelEU or FuelEU Maritime to be implemented in Australia.
However, Origin Energy appeared to be unsupportive of the Low Carbon Liquid Fuel Opportunity in July 2024 comments on the policy. It also appeared to be unsupportive of the proposed Hydrogen production Tax Incentive in July 2024 comments, specifically not supporting requirements for hydrogen producers to match generation from the grid. In March 2024 comments, Origin Energy also opposed the proposed design of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), a renewable energy support mechanism, and advocated for incentives for gas-powered generation.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Origin Energy appears to accept the transition towards renewables as the primary energy source in the energy mix, but also advocates for the continued role of fossil gas. The company stated support for the continued role of fossil gas in the energy mix in its 2024 Sustainability Report, published in August 2024. In June 2025 comments to the Productivity Commission, Origin Energy advocated for reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to allow for faster permitting for new fossil fuel infrastructure while in its February 2025 comments on the review of the National Electricity Market (NEM), the company supported an expanded role for renewable energy while also advocating for policy support for 'long duration firming' including gas-powered generation. In Origin Energy’s July 2023 comments to the Climate Change Authority, it supported a rapid build out of renewable energy while also supporting a continued role for fossil gas. Additionally, in its November 2023 comments on the Future Gas Strategy, Origin Energy stressed the importance of fossil gas power generation.
Nevertheless, in comments on Victoria's Building Electrification Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), Origin Energy did not fully support the proposed amendments by not supporting the preferred approach of electrifying new and existing properties, but was supportive of the proposed option of electrifying only new properties. The company was also supportive of efforts to decarbonize industry in its July 2024 comments on Unlocking Australia’s Green Metal Opportunity, specifically advocating for support to accelerate investment in green steel production. Origin Energy also communicated support for an expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure in March 2024 comments on the Electric Vehicle Strategy.
Industry Association Governance: In August 2024, Origin Energy published its most recent review of its industry associations, including an assessment of alignment on climate change positions. Origin Energy CEO, Frank Calabria, is on the board of the Australian Energy Producers (formerly, the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)) and the company also holds membership with the Queensland Resources Council, which are opposed to ambitious climate policy in Australia. Origin Energy also holds memberships with more positive associations, such as the Electric Vehicle Council and Clean Energy Council.
A detailed assessment of the company's corporate review on climate policy engagement can be found on InfluenceMap's CA100+ Investor Hub here.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information, see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q2 2025.