Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was elected on Saturday (21st), promised significant changes in climate policy in the country which has one of the highest emissions rates among rich nations while also experiencing a spate of related tragedies.on the weather.
Albanese has so far been in opposition from the Labor Party (centre left). He defeated Prime Minister Scott Morrison of the LiberalNational Coalition and will be sworn in on Monday (23rd). But it is not yet clear whether his party will achieve a majority in parliament.
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In his victory speech, the new ruler said Australia could “take the opportunity to become a renewable energy superpower”. At the same time, he is being urged to take tougher action in view of the high level of coal consumption in the country.
Climate change is a top concern for Australian voters who have endured three years of recordbreaking bushfires and floods that have killed hundreds of people and billions of animals.
The problem has become even more serious because it is linked to a housing cost crisis: It is estimated that one in 25 households in Australia will not be able to get insurance against fire or flood because it is in areas considered too expensive to risk.
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This combination of problems is likely to increase social inequalities and create “climate ghettos”: homes without insurance are reduced in price and occupied by vulnerable families unable to defend themselves against extreme weather events.
Meanwhile, Australia is considered one of the least ambitious on climate policy among developed countries and has one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions. The country still relies on coal to produce most of its electricity and is a fossil fuel exporter.
Incumbent Prime Minister Morrison, who failed to win reelection, had pledged to cut Australia’s emissions, but current climate policies are seen as one of the key issues that have prompted many Australian voters to distance themselves from the current government. A famous scene in the country took place in 2017 when Morrison brought a lump of coal to Parliament, praising the importance of fossil fuels to Australia’s economy.
2 of 2 Australia has endured three years of recordbreaking bushfires and floods and is one of the least ambitious rich countries in terms of emissions reduction targets.
Australia has endured three years of recordbreaking bushfires and floods and is one of the least ambitious rich countries in terms of emissions reduction targets.
Now, should Labor fail to secure a majority in the 76seat Parliament, independent lawmakers and the Greens groups that have advocated radical action on climate change could gain more leverage in shaping government policy in this area.
That could force the new Albanian prime minister to adopt a policy of farreaching changes, particularly on coal calls to bar licenses for new coal mines or to dissuade the country from using this fuel have so far been rejected by the new ruler.
In an interview with the BBC shortly after his election victory, Albanese said Australia had “a chance to end the climate wars in the country” and pledged more ambitious cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
“Australian businesses know that good action (against) climate change is good for the economy and (for) job creation and I want to join the global effort.”
Albanese will lead Australia’s first Labor government in almost a decade.
This Monday, Albanese travels to Tokyo, Japan, for a conference of the rulers of Japan, India and the US, a group known by the acronym Quad.
“It will be an opportunity for us to send a message that there is a shift in government and in politics on issues like climate change,” Albanese said.
The new Prime Minister is well known in Australian politics and briefly served as Deputy Prime Minister in 2013.