MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 20 May 2024
Federal Coalition has no policy to address climate crisis
Tomorrow marks two years since the federal Coalition lost the ‘Climate Election’ yet they still have no climate policy, no plan to reduce climate pollution and haven’t updated their 2030 emissions reduction target.
“In 2022, Australians voted decisively for action on climate. They elected the most climate-friendly parliament in Australia’s history. The community showed we expect all political parties to adopt strong, science-based targets to cut climate pollution and uphold those enshrined in legislation,” said Deputy Director of Solutions for Climate Australia Sophia Walter.
“But the federal Coalition has not heeded the message of the electorate. They have not announced any policy to reduce carbon pollution in this current, crucial decade.
“Voters know climate change poses an existential threat to our way of life. It requires a whole-of-government and bipartisan approach to keep the Australian community safe and future-proof our economy by investing in clean solutions. We are disappointed that the federal Coalition is opposing the Future Made in Australia policy that will support this clean economy transformation.
“We are calling on the federal Coalition to listen to the Australian people and produce a climate policy that will reduce emissions this decade and support the transition to a clean economy with good jobs and exports like green steel and green hydrogen that support decarbonisation globally,” said Walter.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has told the media he will release an energy policy that would see Australia transition from coal power to nuclear reactors, but has delayed announcing promised policy details or the locations of proposed nuclear reactors.
“Nuclear reactors are a policy to delay climate action,” said Elly Baxter, Senior Climate Campaigner for Solutions for Climate Australia. “Mr Dutton confirmed in his Budget in Reply that gas, a dangerous fossil fuel, would be increased in our energy mix until nuclear reactors can be brought online decades into the future. Not only does the federal Coalition have no policy to reduce climate pollution, this proposal would see pollution increased.”
ENDS
Deputy Director of Solutions for Climate Australia Sophia Walter: 0476 260 028
Senior Climate Campaigner at Solutions for Climate Australia Elly Baxter: 0407 163 921