Warringah and North Sydney MPs launch campaign
In May 2023, Warringah MP Zali Steggall called for 75 per cent emissions reductions by 2035. Ms Steggall and fellow ‘teals,’ including North Sydney MP Kylea Tink, are now bringing this target to the next federal election.
“We are calling for a minimum of 75 per cent by 2035,” Ms Steggall told North Shore Living. “Scientifically, if we don’t get to that, we are going to overreach 1.5 degrees. And we won’t be able to reach net zero by 2050.”
Both community independents were elected with the backing of the influential Climate 200 group, which is increasing its clout ahead of a possible federal election next year. The organisation, which relies on community donations, has successfully backed several independent candidates who ran on strong environmental platforms.
Ms Steggall has repeatedly challenged the Federal Government to increase its emissions target, which is currently 43 per cent by 2030. More federal incentive was needed to entice landlords to provide solar to tenants, she argued. “Nothing is forcing a landlord to improve their property’s energy efficiency,” Ms Steggall said. “They’re not paying for it.”
Only some homeowners could afford the cost of installing solar. “The government needs better programs to help households electrify,” she added.
“We must have a system to ensure low-income families are supported in the transition and aren’t left behind.” Kylea Tink said that ‘75 by 35’ was achievable and ‘absolutely necessary if we want to curb climate impacts and take advantage of the economic opportunities that come from this transition’.
Ms Tink said the government was due to submit Australia’s second emissions target by 2025. “So we need to push now to make sure that target is more ambitious than the last and gets us to net-zero as soon as possible.”
The target had to be backed up with a way forward, Ms Tink argued. “Like implementing efficiency standards for our vehicles, helping households transition to clean energy, and transitioning the economy away from fossil fuels.”
Ms Steggall added that Australia needed to take a look at sector targets. “If you attribute a target to every sector, it’s not just the energy sector working to reduce emissions. You have every sector pulling its weight. And that’s how we get to a floor of 75 by 35.”