Climate Change | Greens NSW

Preamble

The Greens NSW recognise that global warming, which impacts many aspects of modern life, must be addressed by a multi-faceted approach to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and create a functional and prosperous, climate-neutral society.

Principles. The NSW Greens believe that

Human activity has significantly altered Earth's environment posing an imminent threat to the climate system. Urgent action is imperative to establish a more harmonious relationship with Earth's living systems.
Climate change driven by global warming poses imminent threats to all aspects of life, including food security, water, the economy, and social cohesion. Immediate measures are needed to mitigate these impacts, safeguard vulnerable communities and plan to respond to a more hostile climate.
Urgent action is required to slow the global temperature rise to keep it ideally below 1.5 degrees of warming. Dramatically reducing all climate-pollutant emissions will have a rapid impact in the transition to a safe climate.
The first priority is to reduce the emission of climate pollutants, but it is also important to research and adopt environmentally appropriate methods to remove climate pollutants from the atmosphere. Both are critical to a future safe climate.
Climate super-pollutants such as methane and black carbon are responsible for almost half of global warming. Rapidly reducing these super pollutants as well as phasing out fossil fuels would be four times more effective than focusing on carbon dioxide alone.
Urgent action to achieve net zero emissions of all climate pollutants by 2035 is imperative to reduce the risk of passing dangerous climate tipping points that will irreversibly change our climate. Net zero should be based on CO₂-equivalent for all climate pollutants and calculated using Global Warming Potentials over a 20-year time frame, as well as the current 100-year frame.
Immediate action in line with the precautionary principle must be taken to address and adapt to the identified risks.
NSW, as a wealthy state, has the capacity to show leadership by funding and implementing a climate emergency plan to address and reduce the serious and irreversible damage caused by climate change.
NSW should phase out climate-polluting industries, including the export of significant quantities of coal and prohibit new climate-polluting industries.
Polluting industries should pay for all the climate damage they cause.
All fossil fuel subsidies should be abolished as a matter of urgency and the funds redirected to addressing the threats caused by global warming.
NSW should ensure that our energy supply and land transport needs are provided by renewable energy as soon as possible.
Agriculture must both mitigate, and adapt to the impacts of climate change by adopting sustainable and regenerative practices to reduce emissions
Adequate funding must be made available in urban, regional, and rural and remote areas to adapt our infrastructure (energy, telecommunications, transport systems) to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The transition away from fossil fuels to a net-zero economy is premised upon the concept of a just transition where the costs and benefits are equitably distributed across society, with a focus on building a strong social security system and well-paid jobs in climate-impacted communities.
All native forests logging must cease immediately and nature positive, ecologically sustainable practices used for farmed timber to store carbon and conserve biodiversity. Burning biomass for heating or electricity generation must be avoided because it adds to global warming.

Aims. The NSW Greens will work towards

National and international agreements for emissions inventories, used to assess climate impacts, accounting for all substances contributing to warming, including those with imprecise Global Warming Potentials.
National and international agreements to compile emissions inventories over both the short-term and longer-term periods, which must include a 20-year assessment period, the critical window for keeping global warming below 2 C.
NSW contributing the necessary resources, actions and advocacy to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in alignment with Australia’s ratification of the Paris Agreement.
Reversing warming above pre-industrial levels to stabilise the climate at the safest levels for humans and existing ecosystems.
Countering misinformation and greenwashing and building support in the community for urgent action to achieve a safe climate and ensuring NSW benefits from low-cost renewable energy and residents are supported by needs-based subsidy programs.
Expanding government programs and incentives for individuals, communities and industries (including energy, mining and agriculture) to reduce emissions and remove climate pollutants from the atmosphere, with regular evaluations to ensure targets are met.
Ensuring all renewable energy developments achieve high environmental standards with appropriate compensation for adverse effects.
Implementation of a well-funded, comprehensive, evidence-based, emissions reduction plan, integrated across all three levels of government and in consultation with communities, with appropriate targets and reporting for all sectors with significant climate-polluting emissions.
Government action to achieve a just and sustainable net-zero economy, incorporating market and regulatory measures, including a price on emissions, and compensation for people on low-incomes.
Achieving 100% clean renewable electrical energy in NSW by 2030 with all government-owned buildings and vehicles to use 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Achieving sufficient renewable electricity capacity to power all future energy needs, either directly or, in future indirectly via electrolysis to produce ‘green’ hydrogen and ammonia.
Increased funding for research into the local impacts of climate change and methods to minimise and adapt to them.
Proactive assistance to other nations, particularly in our region, to create safe climate economies, and adapt to climate change through appropriate technology transfer and other forms of assistance, including relocating and rehousing displaced populations where required.
Conserving, restoring, and expanding carbon sinks through protective legislation, public funding of buybacks, community projects, industry innovation, private landholder incentives and the implementation of carbon credits and other mechanisms.
Encouraging governments, organisations and individuals to divest from interests in fossil fuel companies and reinvest in sustainable energy-alternative industries.

See also actions in other relevant Greens NSW policies, e.g., Energy, Transport, Planning and Infrastructure, Coal and Gas, Native Forests and Sustainable Farmed Timber, Coastal Management, Agriculture and Rural Land Use and Waste Elimination