Vote for clean energy in New South Wales

The New South Wales state election has been won. In the lead up, there was lots of talk about climate change and water shortages. So how does the reelected Iemma government stack up on clean energy solutions?

Active communities

In the lead up to the 2007 New South Wales election, communities got active on climate change as never before. Dozens of community climate action groups formed and held events and candidates forums to put candidates' climate policies under the spotlight. Meanwhile the Greens, Democrats and some independents advocated strong climate policies.

Climate election wins

• New renewable energy target: Both Labor and Liberal supported a legislated renewable energy target, although a modest one of 10 per cent by 2010 and 15 per cent by 2020 (up from about six per cent currently). Even this very modest target will drive around $4 billion worth of new investment in new renewable energy projects and push along the growth of Australia's renewable energy industry. The government's renewable energy target does not restrict renewable projects to New South Wales, so much of the investment in these new projects may happen in other states.
• Energy saving rebates: New South Wales residents can apply for rebates of up to $1200 for installing solar hot water and $300 to install home insulation.

A one-sided election

As it became obvious that the Liberal party had little chance of winning the election, Labor was under no pressure to promise real cuts in greenhouse pollution over the next decade.

At the start of the campaign, both parties supported a major expansion of New South Wales' coal industry, including the controversial Anvil Hill project. Neither major party has set a short or medium term target to reduce greenhouse pollution. Professor Nicholas Stern recommends 30 per cent reductions by 2020 as the minimum required to prevent the most dangerous impacts of global warming.

Renewed voter pressure

The New South Wales election was a missed opportunity on climate action for the major parties. However, the huge groundswell of voter demand for action on climate change hopefully means increased community pressure on the Iemma government to abandon plans to expand the New South Wales coal industry.

During the campaign Mr Iemma said "I do not want my kids to ask me in 10 years time why I didn't do more to address the issue of climate change." Why don't you ask him that question now? The premier really needs to start making some of the hard decisions to quit coal and make the shift to clean energy.

Ways to take action

• Tell Iemma to take action on climate change: Find useful tips on how to contact Australian politicians and what to say.
• Start/join a climate action group: Australians are connecting, teaming up, and pushing for climate solutions via dozens of dynamic new “people power” groups nationwide. Visit the Climate Movement website to find a climate action group in your area.
• Are you an older Australian? Join the Grey Power community pushing for clean energy.
• Sign up for the Switched On newsletter for free regular updates on our NSW clean energy campaign.
• Read about clean energy's economic and environmental benefits in the report, The Great Opportunity: 25% renewable energy for NSW.

What Greenpeace wants

• Less greenhouse pollution: At least 80 per cent greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2050 with a target of 30 per cent by 2020.
• More renewable energy: A state renewable energy target of 15 per cent by 2012 and 25 per cent by 2020.
• Energy efficiency: Expand and extend the energy efficiency fund. The current fund is only for five years, it needs to be more.

Impacts of climate change in NSW include:

More drought: Because climate change is expected to increase evaporation rates and decrease rainfall over NSW in coming decades, we could see a 70 per cent increase in drought frequency by 2030.
Hotter weather: By 2030, the northern parts of NSW could warm by 2.1 degrees Celsius, while other parts of the state will warm slightly less. By 2070 that figure jumps to 6.4 degrees Celsius for the north. In Sydney, the number of days over 35 degrees could double by 2030 and increase by up to six times by 2070. The Australian Medical Association warns that by 2100 up to 15,000 Australians could die every year from heat related illnesses due to warmer temperatures caused by climate change.
More bushfires: Bushfires will become more intense and more frequent.
Less snow: The CSIRO projects that NSW snowfields may decrease by 18 per cent to 66 per cent by 2030, dramatically limiting the opportunities for tourism, skiing and snow boarding.