Climate policy in the spotlight as climate change impacts are felt

Heatwaves, storms, flooding, fires and high winds made for an uncharacteristic and disturbing end to winter across eastern Australia. The erratic weather is characteristic of climate change and is fuelled by burning coal and gas.

Solutions for Climate Australia says these impacts dial up the electoral pressure on Australian politicians to enact stronger climate policies.

“As we progress into summer, the warning signs are clear that climate change is impacting Australian communities and it’s only getting worse,” said Elly Baxter, Senior Campaigner, Solutions for Climate Australia. “We have to stop climate change at its cause and that means we have to stop burning coal and gas. Any party hoping to form government in Australia has to present solutions to protect Australians from climate change.

“Six of the 13 electorates with margins under two per cent have felt extreme weather over the last few days. This will make many voters seriously consider the climate policies of the parties at the next federal election.”  

Storms have battered the marginal seat of Bass in northern Tasmania, wind is wreaking havoc in the Melbourne seats of Wills, Menzies, Deakin, Casey, there is escalating fire danger in Gilmore, and record-breaking heat has struck the marginal seat of Richmond along with large swathes of Queensland.

“Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Dutton should be sitting up and taking notice,” said Baxter. “We saw climate as crucial to voter choices in the last election following the Black Summer fires and now we’re looking at the same dynamic.

“We as community members are living with more and more weather extremes while coal and gas companies like Woodside, Santos, Glencore and Whitehaven are reaping profits from polluting. All sides of politics need to make a plan to phase out coal and gas and to make the polluters pay for the damage caused by extreme weather - we need to see that plan before the election.”