Climate change has emerged as the leading issue for Women’s Agenda readers in the lead-up to the Federal election.
An overwhelming 83 per cent of readers listed climate change as one of the top three policy areas they want to see candidates giving more attention to. The second highest policy area was domestic and family violence, listed by 44 per cent of readers.
The push for more politicians to address climate action comes as Australia’s global ranking on our response to climate change has fallen from 35 to 52, putting us one spot behind Saudi Arabia, on The Green Future Index from MIT.
The policy poll question was asked in our most recent reader survey, completed over a couple of days in the first week of April, just prior to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling the election. We received almost 1000 responses, as well as hundreds of other short answers where readers outlined further what they want to see politicians addressing. Words and statements like “accountability”, “support for women at work”, “pay equity” and “equality” came up numerous times.
Thirty three per cent of respondents listed “aged care” in their top three, followed by “housing affordability” (30 per cent) and Indigenous Affairs ( 25 per cent).
Childcare did not come as high up the list as compared to previous years when we’ve run the policy poll, but around a third of those aged 30 to 45 listed this as a top-three issue.
More than a week into the election campaign, addressing climate change has so far received little attention from either of the major parties.
The Coalition and Labor differ on their 2030 climate commitments, with the former committing to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030, and Labor committing to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.
However, Opposition leader Anthony Albanese (like his opponent Scott Morrison), has still committed to supporting new fossil fuel projects, despite the IPCC declaring global emissions must peak within three years, if we are to avoid the worst of climate change.
The Green Future Index, released overnight, ranks Australia at 47 for climate policy, 68 for clean innovation, but a much better 21 for “green society”. It notes Australia’s refusal to sign a COP26 pledge to phase out coal by 2030, but credited a decision to close the biggest coal-fired power station by 2025. This coal closure is not a result of any government policy, but rather industry pressure and changes in the national energy market.