With Australia on track to beat its emissions targets, the federal government wants to hear from Australians on what the next target should be.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt says Australia had met its first Kyoto emissions target, and was on track to meet the 2020 target.
"We are reducing our emissions without a carbon tax, and will meet our international obligations," he told reporters on Saturday.
Mr Hunt said public consultation was now open on what Australia's targets should be at the Paris round of international talks.
"We're inviting the public to contribute to the discussion of what our targets should be," he said.
"Our approach is very clear. We can do this, as we see now, without a carbon tax."
Mr Hunt said Australia was one of the few countries in the world to reduce its emissions, while others had promised a reduction but delivered an increase.
Climate Institute chief executive John Connor welcomed the release of the government's emissions reduction target issues paper but said it revealed a government risking failure on the key test of climate credibility.
"What emissions reductions Australia decides to target in 2025 or 2030 will make crystal clear whether we intend helping achieve the internationally agreed goal of avoiding two degrees warming or not," he said in a statement.
Environment group WWF-Australia said the issues paper lacked the scientific rigour to make the right decisions on greenhouse gas reductions.
WWF-Australia national manager for climate change Kellie Caught said it was in Australia's national interest to cut carbon pollution as quickly as possible.
"Australia's pollution reduction target should be based on what the science is telling us is needed. At a minimum this should be consistent with the global goal of keeping global warming below two degrees," she said in a statement.
