Friday marks an important day in Australia's efforts to settle on climate action but those hoping chief scientist Alan Finkel has puzzled out a durable and effective solution are likely to be disappointed.

Debate this week has focused on the means of how to achieve a cut in pollution, whether by a so-called clean energy target or an alternative route. But quite where the various rules and new mechanisms will take us in terms of carbon cuts has largely been sidelined.

The review recommends the electricity sector merely meets the 28 per cent cut in 2005-level emissions by 2030 pledged to the Paris climate accord by the Abbott-Turnbull governments.

Given the electricity sector is widely viewed as the industry best placed to make substantial - and relatively low cost - pollution cuts, Finkel's target is underwhelming. Instead, he recommends the government by 2020 prepare a whole-of-economy strategy for 2050 with no specifics other than "it may be appropriate" for governments to ask the sector do more than 28 per cent.