Barnaby Joyce's push to repeal net zero is disgraceful, delusional, and totally out of step with the Parliament and the country.
"It's a stunt-and it'll be swiftly squashed in Federal Parliament." said Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie.
"But it is another disgraceful tactic in a long history of spurious claims and peddling climate denial. While in Parliament, Mr Joyce was part of a number of governments that tore down climate programs, slashed science funding and damaged Australia's renewable power industry.
"What he's really advocating for is more floods in Taree, Grafton and Lismore. More deadly marine heatwaves destroying our oceans and fisheries. And the terminal decline of the Great Barrier Reef. He should have the courage and honesty to look those communities in the eye and tell them: I'm fighting for a future that's hotter, harder, and more dangerous," Ms Mckenzie said.
It comes as the Climate Council today releases new analysis of the latest climate science. It provides stark and urgent warnings:
- Global heating is now having significant economic and social costs for Australians with hundreds of thousands of people affected.
- Unchecked climate change would cost Australia $4.2 trillion by 2070 and 8.8% of Australian properties will be uninsurable due to high exposure to climate disasters by 2100.
- Strong targets are essential to protect Australians from worsening climate harm, open economic opportunities in clean industries, and enhance our security relationships in our region.
"Barnaby Joyce isn't standing up for the bush, he's selling it out. His smug front-page photo in The Australian today made me sick. If he had his way, we'd burn fossil fuels forever and blow past every climate threshold, to hell with our kids' future," Ms Mckenzie said.
"The Coalition has now lost two elections because voters want serious climate and energy policies. There's no future with younger Australians if the party follows Barnaby Joyce off this cliff."
"The rest of the Coalition should draw a line. Mr Joyce is campaigning for a future of more fires, more floods, more food insecurity. Are they with him, or with the communities already paying the price?"
