Greens launch safe climate bills

[The Green Party launched a package of bills collectively known as the "Safe Climate Bill" on October 12. The text below is from: the Greens website]

The Greens' Safe Climate Bill is the first legislative attempt to transform Australia as swiftly as possible into a flourishing carbon neutral powerhouse.

Where the Rudd Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme locks in failure on the climate crisis by sidelining the science and sandbagging old polluters at the expense of the sunrise industries, the Greens' Safe Climate Bill gives us a real chance of success by aiming for the goal we know we need to achieve and then setting out how to get there.

Our goal is not simply to reduce carbon emissions. The true goal we must aim for is to pass on to our children, and our children's children, the safe climate that has nurtured us and made human civilisation possible.

For many, this might seem out of reach, but we humans are capable of amazing things when we set our minds to it. Setting a safe climate target would inspire the community and unleash a wave of creativity, of innovative job creation that is right now champing at the bit, as well as improving our quality of life and reconnecting our communities.

The Safe Climate Bill, unlike the CPRS, will deliver a massive transformation in the Australian economy, a transformation that will require the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

Some industries will inevitably be replaced, as thousands of industries such as photo film and horse power have throughout history. Part of the job of government is to make that transition as painless as possible, not pretend that it will not have to happen and work to delay the inevitable - in fact smart Governments position their nations ahead of the curve.

The Safe Climate Bill puts equity at the heart of climate action, investing in upgrading homes of low income Australians for energy efficiency, rolling out transport alternatives in disadvantaged areas, retraining workers in polluting industries for the clean jobs of the future, and funding climate adaptation and emissions cuts in developing countries.

The Safe Climate Bill is a collection of 12 linked bills based around the pillars of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transport and forest protection, supported by a real carbon pricing scheme. The Bill as a whole and each of its constituent elements are intended as exposure drafts for public comment and debate. Some of the Bills have already been introduced in the Senate, others are in exposure draft form, and still others are in consultation phases.

READ MORE: Greens' Safe Climate Bills website

SEE ALSO: www.safeclimatebill.org.au