Labor beats Coalition on election climate ‘scorecard’ but both trail the Greens

Australian Conservation Foundation rates parties in climate election scorecard.

Labor beats the Liberal-National Coalition, but trails the Greens according to the Australian Conservation Foundation’s climate election scorecard.

The ACF is running the climate action survey to compare party climate credentials ahead of the May 18 federal election.

The Coalition comes in at a lowly 4 per cent while the Greens top the table with 99 per cent. Labor then takes the middle ground with a 56 per cent ranking.

Party policies are ranked on 50 key tests including:

  • renewable energy policy,
  • phasing out coal,
  • halting the proposed Adani coal mine
  • and nature conservation.

Labor targets 50 per renewables but could do better

In what is shaping as a climate election, the ALP gets ticks for two key policies – a 50 per cent renewable energy target and 45 per cent climate pollution reduction both by 2030. It also plans to introduce a new federal Climate Protection Agency.

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianConservationFoundation/videos/442839746489900/

However, Labor is not phasing out coal quickly enough. It is also sitting on the fence about the Adani coal mine and under-funding conservation, the ACF claims.

The Liberal-National Coalition sits on the bottom of the eco-friendly ladder. It has no policies for large-scale wind or solar power, none to phase out coal and insufficient funding for nature protection. The Coalition also wants the massive Adani mine to go ahead.

Greens put major parties in the climate shade

The Greens are indisputable winners in the climate election stakes. They want to phase out coal for electricity by 2030 and transition to 100 per cent renewables like solar panels by 2040.

They also favour much higher funding for nature conservation and a ban on the Adani coal mine.

The ACF also sent the survey to selected minor parties and independents. However, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party did not respond in any state or territory.

Meanwhile, Sustainable Australia, Independents for Climate Action Now (ICAN) and the Pirate Party all broadly agreed with the four key statements.

This is the climate election: ACF urges action

According to ACF, Australia’s national environment organisation, this is the climate election.

Only 21% of our energy needs come from renewable resources. Yet modelling by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) shows that Australia can reach 100% renewable energy within 12 years.

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