Australians want our elected representatives to do more to address climate change.
The climate change policies the Greens will take to the looming federal election reflect the scientific realities of global warming and our country’s pollution problem, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said.
The climate platform announced by the Greens today includes policies to:
- Establish a new public authority to oversee the transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
- Cut climate pollution by 63-82 per cent by 2030 and to negative zero emissions by 2040.
- Immediately ban new fossil fuel mines, including Adani, and replace thermal coal with a renewable hydrogen export industry by 2030.
- Restore a price on carbon and extend the Renewable Energy Target.
- Create a new generation of environment laws overseen by a new national Environmental Protection Agency.
“The world’s top climate scientists have warned we must act swiftly to prevent global warming of more than 1.5 degrees and avoid dramatically worsening heatwaves, bushfires, flooding and other extreme weather events,” said ACF’s Climate Change Program Manager, Gavan McFadzean.
“The policies the Greens are taking to the election reflect the urgency scientific bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have said is needed to halt global warming and the kind of transformation developed countries like Australia must make in response.
“This transformation must encompass not only the energy sector, but also heavy industry, transport, agriculture and more – and it must happen in a way that doesn’t leave affected communities behind.
“These policies also reflect Australians’ desire for our elected representatives to do more to stop climate pollution.
“In the latest Essential poll a majority of voters said they thought Australia was not doing enough to address climate change. And in a recent ReachTel poll one in four respondents said global warming and the environment would be the issue most influential in determining their vote.
“This is the climate election. ACF urges all parties and candidates to offer Australians climate change policies that reflect the science and the gravity of the challenge.”
