As we head to the polls across the continent, AYCC and Seed have taken a look at where different parties and candidates stand on climate justice. Think of this like a school report card: "A" represents the best action in line climate justice, while "F" means failing to take action.
Our generation is growing up facing the impacts of climate change here and now. We are calling on all parties and candidates to commit to ambitious action on climate justice. To reflect the best climate science and principles of climate justice, that looks like:
- Tackling climate change in line with the best science
- Ending support for fossil fuels
- Land rights and First Nations Justice
- Investment in a future powered by clean and safe renewable energy (no nuclear!)
- Addressing the impact climate change has on cost of living
What does “tackle climate change in line with the best science” mean?
The best science tells us that we need to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2035. This could be achieved through a rapid transition to 100% renewable energy, a phase out of all existing fossil fuels, a ban on new coal, oil and gas projects, and investment in the infrastructure, skills and training needed for a renewable economy [1]. Australia is one of the world’s biggest emitters of carbon. Burning and exporting coal and gas is driving the climate crisis and we’re already seeing the impacts from catastrophic bushfires to severe flooding. But Australia is one of the windiest and sunniest places in the world, with huge potential for massive renewable energy projects and investment in climate solutions [2].
How the parties stack up and how we’ve decided on scores:
The Australian Greens
Tackling climate change in line with the best science
What we ranked them: A
Why: The Greens have a comprehensive and ambitious set of climate policies, including big investments in renewable energy, a fair but rapid transition away from fossil fuels, and plans for addressing the impact climate has on cost of living. Their emissions reduction targets are in line with the recommendations of top climate scientists. [3]
Ending support for fossil fuels
What we ranked them: A
Why: The Greens have a clear plan to end fossil fuel subsidies and stop coal and gas approvals. [4]
Investment in a future powered by clean and safe renewable energy (no nuclear!)
What we ranked them: A
Why: The Greens have consistently called for higher investment in renewables, and a rapid shift away from fossil fuels. They have spoken out strongly against nuclear and are against both the Coalition's nuclear energy plan, as well as Labor's funding for AUKUS. [6]
Addressing the impact climate change has on cost of living
What we ranked them: A
Why: The Greens have a comprehensive and ambitious set of policies to address the impact the climate crisis has on the cost of living. They have committed to holding fossil fuel companies accountable to paying for climate disaster recovery, and to ensure that loopholes are closed to stop fossil fuel companies paying zero tax. They have a clear plan for climate adaptation and resilience that ranges from investment in healthcare, addressing rising insurance costs to funding for climate resilience and recovery.[7][8]
Kate Chaney
Tackling climate change in line with the best science
What we ranked them: B
Why: Overall Kate Chaney has a good start of climate policies, voicing the need of a net zero by 2035 emissions reduction target, and staying strongly committed to the Paris Climate Agreement [35]. However, this is undermined by her refusal to commit to ending new gas projects. While she acknowledges that we need to phase out coal and gas, she believes in continuing gas production in WA [36].
Ending support for fossil fuels
What we ranked them: B
Why: Kate Chaney has named phasing out fossil fuel subsidies in her priorities, and has a consistent voting record against investment in fossil fuels [37]. However, while her gas stance is "as little gas as possible, for as short amount of time as possible," she has stated that gas should be an important part of a decarbonisation and has expressed support for allowing gas projects, including the North West Shelf, if they are viable after carbon pricing and necessary for transition [38]. The science is clear that we cannot afford any more coal or gas [39]. To increase her grade, Chaney should commit to supporting no new gas projects.
Investment in a future powered by clean and safe renewable energy (no nuclear!)
What we ranked them: B
Why: Kate Chaney has spoken out strongly against nuclear, and has advocated for greater renewable investments [40]. To increase her grade, Chaney needs to increase her ambition on renewable energy with a 100% target by 2030.
Addressing the impact climate change has on cost of living
What we ranked them: B
Why: Kate Chaney has spoken out against how little fossil fuel companies are currently taxed, and called for an increase, and she has plans to reduce energy costs through electrification [40]. She has also expressed support for closing loopholes that allow fossil fuel companies to pay less tax, starting with removing fuel tax credit subsidies for mining companies [41]. To increase her score, Chaney should provide clarity on whether fossil fuel companies should be paying for climate resilience projects.
Australian Labor Party
Tackling climate change in line with the best science
What we ranked them: C
Why: Overall, Labor has some good building blocks of climate policy, like investment in community owned renewables, but they don’t have the ambition we need to tackle climate change, and have locked us into gas for decades to come [9][10]. To up their grade, Labor should increase their emissions reduction targets to net zero by 2035, create a plan for a fair transition away from fossil fuels, and invest more funding into climate adaptation and resilience.
Ending support for fossil fuels
What we ranked them: D
Why: While gas subsidies have dropped compared to the previous Morrison Liberal Government, Labor currently has over $1.5billion set aside to develop the Middle Arm Gas Hub, a project that would facilitate the expansion of fracking in the Northern Territory [11]. During their last term, Labor approved over 28 coal and gas projects [12]. To increase their grade, Labor needs to commit to a plan to phase out existing subsidies, and make a commitment to no more coal and gas.
Investment in a future powered by clean and safe renewable energy (no nuclear!)
What we ranked them: B
Why: Labor has spoken out strongly against the Coalition's nuclear plans, and has solid renewable energy investments [16]. To increase their grade, Labor needs to increase their ambition on renewable energy to 100% by 2030, and keep their anti-nuclear position consistent across all areas of work, including AUKUS [17].
Addressing the impact climate change has on cost of living
What we ranked them: C
Why: Labor has increased the amount of tax claimed from fossil fuel companies compared to the previous Morrison Liberal Government [18]. However, more than 56% of fossil fuel companies are still not paying any tax on their exports [19]. In a Senate inquiry, Labor indicated interest in a polluters pay model but would not show support [20]. The Labor government has invested millions into climate resilience and adaptation, and created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the renewable energy transition [21]. To increase their grade, Labor needs to ensure that fossil fuel companies are paying taxes, ensure that companies are held accountable for climate disaster recovery, and increase their investment into climate resilience.
Liberal Party
Tackling climate change in line with the best science
What we ranked them: F
Why: While on paper the Liberal Party has a net zero target, their actions and commitments do not align with this target, and members of the party have indicated their exit from the Paris Climate Agreement if elected [22][23]. They have also confirmed that they would abandon the current climate pollution reduction target of 43% on 2005 levels if elected [24]. During their time in opposition, the Liberal Party has blocked and opposed Labor's bare minimum climate policies [25].
Ending support for fossil fuels
What we ranked them: F
Why: The Liberal party platform actively supports the opening of new gas basins, such as the Beetaloo basin in the Northern Territory [26]. They have repeatedly indicated their support for fossil fuel corporations, and made no effort to decrease spending or approvals. In their last term of government, the Liberals spent $55.3 billion subsidising fossil fuels in just 2021-2022 [27]. In the 2025 budget response, the Liberal party promised a further $1.3b in subsidies for gas, and promised to fast track approvals without proper environmental assessments [28].
Investment in a future powered by clean and safe renewable energy (no nuclear!)
What we ranked them: F
Why: The Liberal party is advocating for nuclear reactors for Australia, knowing that it’s a delay tactic - knowing it would take decades to get off the ground, providing a pathway to keep coal and gas [31]. They have also heavily leaned into anti-renewable sentiment, using this to stoke division. On paper they acknowledge there is a role for renewables, but lack detail on what this looks like, and have called for a cap on renewable energy if elected [32].
Addressing the impact climate change has on cost of living
What we ranked them: F
Why: The Liberal party opposes increasing tax from fossil fuel companies, and is against a polluters pay model [33]. They have downplayed the connection between climate change and increasing costs, and have nothing in their policy platform on climate resilience or adaptation [34].
