The Labor Party will release its climate policy in coming weeks.Credit:Paul Rovere
LEAN called for Labor to be “be brave and answer the call of history” while acknowledging Australia’s climate goals cannot move from “laggard to head of the pack in one fell swoop”.
Climate policy remains a risk for both major parties. Labor fears a repeat of the 2019 election scare campaign when Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s claimed it would be “economy wrecking” if former Labor leader Bill Shorten was elected with his emissions reduction target of 45 per cent by 2030.
The federal government remains committed to its international pledge under the Paris Agreement to cut emissions by 26 per cent by 2030 based on 2005 levels. However,it is also promising it will “meet and beat” this promise by achieving 35 per cent carbon cuts over the next decade,before hitting net zero in 2050.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese and climate change and energy spokesman Chris Bowen face pressure from progressive party members to pursue an ambitious climate action,following international criticism of the Morrison government’s emissions targets by allies such as the US and Britain,which have set 2030 targets of 50 per cent or more.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese faces pressure on climate action.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
LEAN co-convener Felicity Wade said Labor could appeal to outer suburban and younger voters with a “credible” emissions reduction target for 2030 that could be as low as 40 per cent. The environment movement has not set its own emissions target and Ms Wade told members that after the federal party announced its target “LEAN’s immediate task is to help get elected”.
“Our target needs to stick close to those of comparable,resource-rich economies – the US has a target of 50 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030;Canada a target 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030,” she said.