Climate change has been one of the hottest topics of this year’s election. Even American media outlets were speculating just how significant a role environmental action would play when Australians took to the voting booths on Saturday. As the dust begins to settle and the confetti of Labor’s victory is swept away (and even as votes still need to be counted and statistics are being continually updated), we know one thing for sure: Australia voted for climate action.
Climate candidates record historic election result.
More so than in any election prior, we have seen a wave of climate-conscious candidates not only put their names forward but win seats in parliament. At the time of writing, the so-called “Teal Independents” had won six seats and The Greens had won three, with several seats still to be decided.
The historic success of these candidates demonstrates Australians’ belief in the need for more climate action. For example, The Greens policies included a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035. In comparison, the outgoing Coalition government had committed to a 26% – 28% reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050.
Labor commits to swift action on climate change.
The groundswell of support for climate action sends a clear message to newly appointed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party. Australians are expecting more meaningful and more timely measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy.
We’ve already written about Labor’s pledge to install community batteries across the country, but they’ve also set targets for a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. In essence, the party has committed to swifter action to ‘join the global effort’ on climate change – and it’s clear the Australian community supports this direction.
What does the election mean for the future of renewable energy?
To support this faster move to reduce Australia’s emissions, we can expect a significantly greater investment into renewable energy resources. Albanese has pledged $100 million for an Australian-made battery plan and we can expect to see an increase in legislation and infrastructure around clean energy. With The Greens and Independents having more of a say than ever before, the incoming government can expect to be kept accountable on its climate and energy policies.
Why renewable energy and climate action matter.
The International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) latest report states that while the positive change that has been created around the world is promising, there’s more we need to do if we are to reduce the impacts of climate change. This election has been Australia’s response to this challenge.
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