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We're nine days away from the Federal Election. Support for action on climate change is at its highest since 2008, and concern about climate change has risen by 21% since 2013.
Evidently, climate change is at the forefront of voters' minds, but is it on the forefront of our political candidates?
According to a poll by the Climate Institute, that would be a resounding 'no'. A mere 17% of those surveyed think that the coalition has a credible climate plan, and only 20% believe labor does. We've broken down the three major parties key climate change policies so you can decide for yourself.
THE COALITION:
- The Coalition has promised to reduce emission levels from 2000 by 5% by 2020.
- By 2030, The Coalition wants to have cut emissions between 26-28% on 2005 levels.
- By 2020, The Coalition aims to have 20% of energy coming from renewable sources.
- The Coalition don't support a moratorium on new coal mines.
- The Coalition aims to take a "Direct Action" plan, where $2.55 billion in taxes is paid to companies to undertake projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Net zero emissions by end of century.
Does their policy measure up?
'Direct Action' funds projects that aim to reduce emissions. Essentially, the 'Direct Action Plan' works by paying big polluters to stop polluting. Some of the projects to be funded are ones that may have gone ahead anyway, such as projects to reduce land clearing. Farmers may not have planned to clear the vegetation in the first place, and are handed taxpayer dollars for a project that would have happened regardless.
The Climate Institute has done the math, and calculated that for Australia to reach its 2030 target using Direct Action it would cost between $16 – 37 billion. It's safe to say that's a fair bit more than the allocated $2.55 billion.
Along with this, the emissions reduction target The Coalition is proposing won't keep Australia below 2 degrees. According to the Climate Change Authority, we need to reduce emissions 45-65% of that in 2005 by 2030. What the The Coalition currently proposes falls around 37% short of this target.
A recent study by the Climate Institute assessing the credibility of the Coalitions climate change policy has found that "if other nations were to have a similar emission reduction targets to that of the Coalition, the result would be 3-4°C of global warming, with devastating impacts for Australia""if other nations were to have a similar emission reduction targets to that of the Coalition, the result would be 3-4°C of global warming, with devastating impacts for Australia"- The Climate Institute
[Image] An example of the effects of + 3 degrees of global warming could have on Australia. Source: The Climate Institute
Read more: Direct Action Not Giving Us Bang For Our Buck On Climate Change.
THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY:
- Like The Coalition, by 2020, Labor aims to bring 2000 emission levels down by 5%.
- By 2030 Labor aims to achieve a 45% drop in 2005 carbon emissions.
- Achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
- By 2030, Labor wants to have reached a renewable energy target of 50%.
- Like The Coalition, Labor doesn't support a moratorium on new coal mines.
- Labor plans to introduce two emissions trading schemes, one for electricity generators and another for big industry. This means companies will have to bid for a permit allowing them to emit a certain amount of greenhouse gases. Like trading cards for big business, these permits can be sold on to other companies, stored for a later date or used straight away.
- Will offer $90 million to assist local communities with the shift to clean power generation.
Does their policy measure up?
According to The Climate Change Authority Australia should be adopting a stronger target than just 5% by 2020. This goal does not keep up with the actions of other countries, and doesn't take in to account that poorer nations don't have access to the same resources as we do in Australia and thus are not as well equipped to deal with climate change. Most importantly, this target is inconsistent to keeping warming below 2 degrees.
In regards to Labors Policy, the Climate Institute has warned that "If countries had similar targets currently supported by Labor, the world would warm by 2-3°C, also with huge threats for Australians, our economy and environment."
Read More: Labor's Phased Emissions Trading Scheme
[Image] An example of the effects of + 2-3 degrees of global warming could have on Australia. Source: The Climate Institute
THE GREENS:
- Plan to have at least 90% of energy sourced from renewables by 2030.
- No new coal or gas approvals, and no expansions of existing projects.
- Emissions below 63 – 82% of 2005 by 2030.
- Net zero emissions by 2040.
- Guarantee funding for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to $30. billion over ten years, rather than $10 billion over five years.
- Introduce a range of market based and regulatory mechanisms, including a price on carbon.
Does their policy measure up?
According to the Climate Institute, the Greens ambitions policies will see warming below 1.5 – 2 degrees, which is consistent with the agreements made in Paris last year.
Labor and The Coalition have both declared support for the Paris agreement, and agreed to try and keep global warming below 1.5 – 2 degrees. However their policies don't reflect this, and would see us tipping into the scale of catastrophic global warming. We need more credible climate policies from the two major parties to tackle the ever-growing problem of climate change.
Read more: Do We Need To Re-Establish A Department Of Climate Change?
Join us in asking political candidates for stronger action on climate change!
We need urgent and sustained action on: Climate change, protection of the Great Barrier Reef, and a commitment to gender equality. Sign our open letter to candidates calling for broad political agreement across party lines at the 2016 Australian election.
1 Million Women is more than our name; it's our goal! We're building a movement of strong, inspirational women acting on climate change by leading low-carbon lives. To make sure that our message has an impact, we need more women adding their voice. We need to be louder. Joining us online means your voice and actions can be counted. We need you.
