The Abbott government has poured cold water on ambitious climate change targets recommended by the Climate Change Authority, saying they would put an undue burden on Australia.

Responding to a report published on Wednesday by the independent authority, which recommended a 30 per cent reduction in emissions on 2000 levels by 2025, Environment Minister Greg Hunt said that would translate to Australia reducing the emissions intensity of its economy by a third more than any other country.

"On their own numbers, what the CCA is proposing is not just the largest reduction in emissions intensity in the world but a third more onerous than any other country," Mr Hunt said.

Experts rejected the government's arguments, saying the authority's recommendations were not excessive, nor were they too difficult for a country with higher economic and population growth than others.