With today's climate pollution data showing that emissions are up quarter on quarter and Australia still not on track to meet our emissions reduction goals, Adam Bandt says it is clear that the only option for avoiding catastrophic global heating is to elect more Greens at the next election to get Labor to act in minority government by stopping new coal and gas mines.
Labor has failed to release updated 2035 targets, instead focusing on approving new coal and gas projects. With the decision on Woodside's North West Shelf project currently sitting on Tanya Plibersek's desk, Labor has thus far approved 32 new coal and gas projects.
The data released today also shows electricity emissions going up 1.5% in the last year as state Labor Governments extend the life of coal-fired power stations, and should send alarm bells ringing on the future electricity sector reliant emissions cuts to 2030 that Labor needs to meet their 43% target.
Quarter on quarter emissions are also up, with the September quarter in 2024 seeing 110.3 million tonnes of emissions produced compared to the 110.0 emitted for the same quarter in 2023.
The quarterly data revealed 434.9 million tonnes of emissions were released in the year to September 2024. This is only a 0.9% reduction in the two and a quarter years since the 438.8 million tonnes emitted in the year to June 2022 when Labor first came into office.
This rate of decline puts even Labor's paltry 43% targets out of reach without a rapid increase in policy ambition.
As stated by Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
"With emissions this high, Labor is blowing any chance of a safer climate and even their own weak climate goals are out of reach."
"Gas continues to keep emissions high, but Labor is continuing to open massive new gas projects, and is considering approving a Woodside mega-project for another 50 years.
"Labor's continued approvals of new coal and gas means the country can't cut emissions fast enough, and Peter Dutton would make pollution even worse. We can't keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.
"Nothing changes unless your vote does. The only chance of a safer climate is voting Greens to keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act by stopping new coal and gas mines."
