Climate Council rates political parties on climate

The Climate Council has released its scorecard of Australia’s political parties ahead of the 2025 federal election, revealing that the federal Coalition’s policies would unleash at least 6.3 billion tonnes of additional climate pollution.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said, “The federal Coalition voted against every single law to cut climate pollution in the last parliament. Their election policies would increase pollution by at least 6.3 billion tonnes, fuelling more extreme heat, floods, fires and rising costs. That’s not a plan. It’s a climate disaster.”

The ‘Climate Crossroads’ report is a comprehensive climate report of the 2025 federal election campaign. It assesses the track records and promises of the major parties and key crossbenchers, based on expert analysis of policy platforms and voting history.

The findings in the report are blunt:

• The Liberal–National Coalition is rated ‘Harmful’.
• The Australian Labor Party is rated ‘Right direction’.
• The Australian Greens are rated ‘Strong’.
   

“The federal Coalition appears allergic to anything that actually cuts climate pollution. They’re clinging to coal, pushing gas and pretending nuclear reactors will save us. It won’t. Nuclear reactors are a recipe for more climate pollution for longer,” McKenzie said.

The report credits the Albanese government for turning around Australia’s climate policy by delivering national climate laws, scaling up renewables and backing cleaner transport. But the government’s approval of 26 new coal, oil and gas developments is undermining that progress.

Climate Councillor Professor Tim Flannery said, “At the last election, Australia was a global climate pariah, following nine years of Liberal–National governments. Labor has overseen a 180-degree turn on climate in this parliament, and they have credible policies to deliver in the next.”

The report finds the Albanese government has made strong progress on ramping up renewable power, by adopting a target of 82% this decade, and unlocking $87 billion of public and private investment. 40% of electricity in the national grid now comes from a mix of renewable sources like solar and wind. These technologies, backed by big batteries and hydro power, are cutting pollution, slashing bills and replacing ‘unreliable’ coal.

Energy expert and Climate Councillor Greg Bourne said, “The shift to renewable power is well underway and is accelerating. Solar and wind power backed by storage like big batteries is the lowest-cost, fastest and cleanest way to power our homes and businesses.

“This election, political players need to commit to accelerating the clean energy transformation that is already delivering for millions of Australians. This is the only way to reduce bills and pollution.”

The report also highlights the critical role of the crossbench in the last parliament. Pro-climate independents and the Greens helped strengthen climate laws, protect clean energy investment and block public funding for fossil fuels.

“Australians have a right to know who’s acting on climate, and who’s holding us back. Independents and the Greens rolled up their sleeves and delivered key climate reforms in the last Parliament. They pushed Labor to go stronger and faster. We need that pressure to continue,” McKenzie said.

“Australians have a clear choice at this election. Sadly, history shows the federal Coalition does not take climate change seriously, and their 2025 policies are more of the same: more coal, more gas, more dangerous delay.

“Every action in the next term of parliament will count. Cutting climate pollution now means fewer homes destroyed by fires and floods, fewer families forced to flee, and a safer future for our kids. Of the two major parties, only the Labor Party has a credible plan to cut climate pollution and keep Australians safer.

“Climate change is already one of the top concerns for voters. This election is our chance to shape the future we want to leave for the next generation. Use your vote to demand climate action.”

Image credit: iStock.com/diane555