Aussie Labor party's climate change plan targets 50% renewables

The opposition Labor party in Australia presented Tuesday a set of climate change and environmental policies, including a 50% renewables goal by 2030 and a promise that the federal government would lead by example as a direct purchaser of green energy.

The party’s plan, if it wins the election in July, also includes reintroduction of emissions trading and lower caps on allowed emissions. Labor leader Bill Shorten attacked in a speech yesterday the current government in Australia for sticking to Tony Abbott’s "widely-ridiculed direct action policy, which wastes taxpayers’ money paying big polluters to keep polluting".

“More talk won’t help tackle climate change, but more investment in renewable energy like solar and wind power will,” Shorten said. “Labor will cut pollution through the best available pathway and in the most economically efficient way to protect our strong economy and the environment.”

Clean energy investment in Australia climbed by 16% to USD 2.9 billion (EUR 2.56bn) in 2015, according to figures by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). The Labor party says its plan will allow the country to seize the opportunities for new jobs in clean energy, new industries and greater investment.

The climate change action plan envisages greater flexibility and more technology options for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and reduced red tape. As for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the party proposes to invest AUD 206.6 million (USD 157m/EUR 139m) in it for “a specific concentrated solar thermal funding round”.

(AUD 1 = USD 0.760/EUR 0.671)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!