An important new report says Australia is not on track to meet its responsibilities under the Paris Climate Accord and has no national strategy to lower carbon emissions or vision for sustainable development.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) - one of the world's preeminent economic institutions - says "emissions are projected to increase by 2030" in Australia's carbon-intensive economy.  OECD also says the status of Oz's biodiversity is "poor and worsening" and the government's national threatened species strategy failing due to insufficient funding.

"Australia is home to a 10th of global species and is seen by many as synonymous with pristine coastal areas and an outback brimming with nature.  However the country is increasingly exposed to rising sea levels, floods, heat waves, bushfires, and drought," said the OECD's deputy environment director Anthony Cox.  "This makes it all the more important that Australia take a more proactive role in fighting climate change and addressing biodiversity loss."

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) says the OECD report revealed a "litany of failures" over ten years that were "the result of a persistent attitude among some irresponsible politicians and businesses that the environment had to suffer to turn a profit". 

"In this election year our major political parties have an opportunity to detail to the community how they would embrace a cleaner and greener plan for our country and our economy," said the ACF's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy.  "The OECD is clear.  Australia is failing to protect the environment and we are doing damage at record speed."