Greens Policy on Climate Change – Real Action to Rescue the Future

“A kind of turning point on this issue was reached in 2006, coinciding with the release of Al Gore’s film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, and the release of the Stern report into the economic costs of global warming”, said Bernard Rooney, the Greens candidate for the seat of Drummoyne.

“The science of climate change could no longer be denied or ignored, although not for want of trying by the fossil fuel industry and governments such as the the Bush Administration and its fellow traveller the Howard Government.

“Tragically, shamefully, the Australian Government refused to sign Kyoto and largely did nothing. A whole decade has now been wasted. But now all political parties and even corporations are being compelled to recognise the reality of climate change”, said Mr Rooney.

“However, talk is cheap. What is needed is real action, which is not being provided by the Iemma Government.

“Greens policy on this issue constitutes real action as follows:

• substantial and immediate reductions in NSW’s greenhouse emissions, leading to at least 80% reduction (based on 1990 levels) by 2050;

• stopping the building of coal fired power stations and the expansion of coal mining, and “just transitions” funding for coal-dependent communities to develop low carbon economies;

• renewable energy targets of 20% of all energy generated by 2012 and 50% by 2020, and an industry development policy to create large numbers of high quality jobs in NSW;

• rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions using wind energy, crop wastes and solar heating (including solar hot water) with natural gas as a transition fuel;

• reduce total energy consumption by 10% by 2011 and by 15% by 2015 using mandatory energy efficiency standards;

• carbon pricing, preferably as a carbon tax where the polluters pay or, as a second best option, as a well designed carbon trading scheme.

“The Iemma Government’s failure to match or better Greens’ policy simply reveals a lack of seriousness on this most serious issue.”

Further Information:

Greens Climate Change and Energy Policy Summary

Greens Climate Change and Energy Policy (full version)

Greens Policy Summaries (pdf booklet, 1.7mb)