According to Vote Compass data, climate change was the top issue among Australians. With the federal election campaign started, many are curious about each party’s position on one of today’s most urgent topics.

And with the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) study predicting a 1.5 degree Celsius temperature rise, it’s easy to see why.

Here are the major parties’ policies: Coalition, Labor, and Greens.

The Coalition’s policy

The Coalition pledged net zero emissions by 2050. That implies that by 2050, Australia’s carbon dioxide removal must equal or exceed its emissions.

It’s all about balancing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere with the amount removed.

How will it do this? Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia will reach net zero emissions by investing $20 billion in “technology over taxes” over the next decade.

This includes:

Carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Low-emission steel production.

Using hydrogen as a fuel.

The Coalition also pledges to invest in EV charging infrastructure and encourage business fleets to go electric.

But it hasn’t committed to modifying its 2030 carbon reduction target of 26-28%.

Why? Australia’s government estimates it will cut emissions by 30-35% by then.

Labor’s policy

Labor has also promised to net zero emissions by 2050 and a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030.

To achieve net zero, the party plans to:

Upgrade the electricity grid to allow it to handle more renewable energy.

Make electric vehicles cheaper.

Install community batteries and solar banks around the country.

Modernise steel and aluminium production .

Labor leader Anthony Albanese claims his plan will create 600,000 new jobs, reduce electricity costs by $275 per home by 2025, and promote private investment.

Mr Albanese claimed Labor’s Powering Australia plan would cost $683 million.

Green policy

Unlike Labor and the Coalition, the Greens intend to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 and to zero by 2035.

Adam Bandt and the Greens aim to entirely phase out coal and gas and move to 100% renewable energy as quickly as practicable.

How will they do this? The Greens aim to:

Develop more batteries.

Upgrade the electricity grid.

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Reduce the cost of electric vehicles.

The party believes it would fund climate change policies by taxing corporations.

Profits over $100 million would be subject to a 40% super-profits tax.

Coal and gas-fired power facilities would be phased out by 2030 under the Greens’ $40 billion renationalisation plan.

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