Climate Change: What the major parties are promising

Who are the women running for election in 2022? Check out Women Elect, our page tracking female candidates.

We found climate change to be the leading policy area Women’s Agenda readers want to hear more about, when polled in April 2022. 

We also know climate action is driving the wave of independents – especially the so-called ‘Teal’ independents who are backed by Climate 200, where 19 of the 22 candidates are female.

Meanwhile, climate change is generally higher on the news agenda and on the minds of Australians since the last election, given the intense weather events that have been experienced over the past three years, including the Black Summer bushfires, flooding across Queensland and northern NSW and the six major bleaching event to hit the Great Barrier reef.  different parts of the country. 

And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that global emissions must peak within the next three years if global warming is to be kept to 1.5 degrees celsius. 

But climate action hasn’t featured strongly on the election campaign for the two major parties.

Research organisation Climate Analytics finds that so far, only policies outlined by the Greens, and the Teal independent candidates are consistent with keeping global warming at or below 1.5. It describes Labor’s policies as “slightly better” than the Coalition – which is alarmingly consistent with 3 degrees of warming. 

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR: Our 2022 election policy pages are live, and updated as we learn more from each of the major parties. 

The COALITION

• Targeting a 26 to 28 per cent emissions reduction by 2030. Climate Analytics finds that if all national governments followed this lead, the planet would hit at least a catastrophic 3 degrees celsius of warming, possibly 4 degrees. 
• Wants to deliver “Technology, not taxes” for long terms emissions reductions plan
• The party’s policy page does not feature ‘climate’ across any of the names of its 2022 election plans
• Has proposed to maintain a business environment supporting mining investments and jobs in new resources and energy projects 
• Will “streamline” environmental approval processes to reduce green tape

LABOR 

• Targeting a 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030. Climate Analytics says this is in line with 2 degrees of global warming. 
• Does not refer to climate change in policy headers, but bundles it under the banner of “Powering Australia” 
• Plans to make electric vehicles cheaper
• Has plans for 85 solar banks, 400 community batters, 10,000 New Energy Apprentices, and a $3 billion investment in green metals 
• Restor role of the Climat eChange Authority 

‘TEAL’ Independents

• Various policies and targets (like Warringah MP Zali Steggall’s bill proposing a 60 per cent emissions reduction by 2030). 
• Climate analytics finds most teal independents to share policies in line with Steggall’s bill, which are consistent with the 1.5 degree target, and therefore the Paris Agreement. 

THE GREENS

• Targetting a 74 per cent carbon emissions reduction cut by 2030, which Climate Analytics describes as the most comfortable target for keeping warming below 1.5℃.
• Will ban construction of new coal, oil and gas infrastructure 
• Support mining workers in moving to sustainable industries 
• Phase-out thermal coal mining, burning and export by 2030

Go deeper: Read more analysis from Climate Analytics.