Australia is at a crucial point in our response to climate change. Last year, under Prime Minister Turnbull, Australia went to the Paris Climate Change Conference as the only nation that has gone backwards on climate action in the past two years.

Not only is it embarrassing, it’s concerning.

In contrast, Labor has announced a commitment to net zero emissions target by 2050, based on a baseline emissions reduction of 45 per cent by 2030. Other important Labor policies to address climate change include a 50% renewable energy goal by 2030, a new target for 2025 within the first year of a Shorten government and the reintroduction of an emissions trading scheme to meet targets.

Please join Tanya Plibersek and her Labor colleagues next Tuesday as we host Mark Butler, Shadow Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, for a discussion with our National convenor Felicity Wade about Labor’s policies, the challenges we face and the issues we should prioritise.