Updated

Australia has been criticized over its new greenhouse-gas reduction target which lags behind the ambitions of most wealthy countries.

Lawmakers in Prime Minister Tony Abbott's conservative government on Tuesday agreed on a target of curbing carbon gas emissions to at least 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The target could go as high as 28 percent.

The target scales back a draft proposal to reduce Australian greenhouse-gas emissions by 30 percent in that period.

The U.S. has pledged to cut overall emissions 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025, compared to 2005.

Critics argue most wealthy countries have pledged larger reductions than Australia.