What is Each Political Party’s Policy on Climate and the Environment?

In the lead up to the 2025 federal election, we’ve broken down each major political party’s stance on climate change and the environment to make it easier for you to Put The Planet First when you vote.

It can be hard to see past the election ads and campaign flyers and really get the gist of what each party will do for the climate and environment. We scoured each party’s website and summarised the environment and climate change policies into convenient dot points for you to save you the frustration and hassle. You’re welcome!

Please note: As we near the election, political parties may update their policies, so make sure to check their websites for updated information.

Labor

Let’s start with our current governing party, the Australian Labor Party, also known as ALP. Generally, Labor is the major centre-left political party in Australia and the slightly more progressive counterpart to the relatively conservative Coalition.

Labor took to power in the most recent 2022 election on a promise of climate action and environmental reform – a lot of which hasn’t quite played out as promised. Despite some advancements in renewable energy and protections of 52% of Australia’s oceans, Labor has approved the opening or expansion of 32 coal and gas projects in three years and essentially dumped its own nature-positive laws.

Note: The Labor Party received over $448,000 in donations from fossil fuel companies over the last financial year (not including anonymous donors who gave less than the disclosure threshold).

Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Anthony Albanese | Photo by Palácio do Planalto on Flickr | Licence

Labor’s Policies

The Environment 

There were no specific environmental policies outlined on the Labor Party’s website. 

Climate Change & Energy

• Deliver more cheap, clean, renewable energy to get the energy grid to 82% by 2030
• Expand the Clean Energy Finance Corporation by $2 billion to invest in renewable energy and low-emission technologies 

Read More

Photo thanks to Michael Heritage

Liberals and Nationals

Next up, the Liberals and Nationals, also known as the Coalition, the party currently in opposition and led by Peter Dutton. While on state and local levels, the Nationals and Liberals operate a bit differently, they have a unified front in the federal government.

In 2019, The Climate Council published a report detailing the Australian Government’s climate change policies and their effectiveness since the election of the Liberal-National Coalition government in 2013.

They found that during the Coalition’s term, there has been an apparent lack of credible climate policy, with poor performance often covered up, censored, or misleadingly depicted.

Note: The Coalition received over $1 million in donations from fossil fuel companies over the last financial year (not including anonymous donors who gave less than the disclosure threshold).

Leader of the Liberal Party Mr Peter Dutton (centre) | Photo by Arlington National Cemetery on Flickr | Licence

Liberal’s Policies

The Environment

• Focus on practical and genuine environmental conservation
• Support community-driven initiatives to green Australia’s landscapes
• Minimise the footprint of Australia’s energy system
• Secure the National Water Grid by supporting projects that improve water security
• Fund & foster the protection, restoration, and sustainability of the land & water
• Support practical initiatives to address climate change
• Preserve and protect Australia’s natural wonders, e.g. The Great Barrier Reef

Read More

@grumpyturtlefilms

Climate Change & Energy

• Establish a civic nuclear program with seven operating nuclear power plants across Australia
• Unlock more Aussie gas for energy security and encourage increased exploration and development
• Enable the responsible and sustainable growth of renewables 
• Avoid the overbuild of transmission lines and industrial solar and wind projects 
• Ensure retiring coal generation is replaced by reliable baseload energy

Read More

The Greens

Trailing behind the Coalition and Labor in size is our next biggest party, the Greens. As you can generally guess from its name, the Greens’ campaign has a significant focus on green energy and environmental concerns, and is one of the most left-wing parties in the Australian parliament.

Greens Party Leader Mr Adam Bandt | @LouisaBilleter

The Greens have a policy of refusing donations from fossil fuel companies and have not reported any such donations in the past financial year.

The Greens’ Policies

The Environment

• Invest 1% of the federal budget in protecting and restoring nature
• End native forest logging
• Place a moratorium on clearing koala habitat
• Make greenwashing illegal
• $300 million to install greywater recycling systems in Aussie households
• $200 million to rehabilitate major rivers and lakes so they’re clean enough to swim in!

Read More

@nicholson_imaging

Climate Change & Energy

• 75% emissions cut by 2030 and net-zero by 2035
• 100% renewables by 2030
• Ban all new coal, oil, and gas projects and stop expansions
• Guarantee coal and gas workers new jobs
• End fossil fuel subsidies
• Ban fossil fuel donations, advertising, and sponsorships, and strengthen lobbying rules
• Keep Aus nuclear-free
• Support shift to electric vehicles with rebates of up to $10k
• Make public transport cheaper
• Have coal, oil, and gas corporations legally and financially liable for the damage they cause
• Establish a National Disaster Response Unit to respond to floods and fires
• Ban single-use plastics

Read More

Other Key Parties to Look Out For

One Nation

One Nation is a smaller party but still very loud. Headed by Pauline Hanson, One Nation believes Australia should withdraw from the United Nations Paris Agreement signed in 2016.

It avidly disagrees with cutting greenhouse gas emissions and argues that there’s not enough evidence to suggest that man-made climate change is real, stating proudly that it’s ‘the only political party to question climate science’.

Read More

Katter’s Australia Party

Another minor party you may have heard of is Katter’s Australia Party (yes, that Bob Katter), a Queensland-focused party.

Katter’s Australia Party wants the 75% emissions target by 2025 scrapped and a restoration of Queensland’s coal and gas-fired power stations. KAP also supports investment in nuclear power. 

In terms of the environment, it’s looking to manage wild populations of flying foxes and crocodiles.

Read More

Fusion

Fusion is a small non-parliamentary party that’s heavily campaigning for climate action and is taking a ‘future-focused’ approach to its policies.

Some of its key ecological campaigns are focused on ending native logging and broad-scale land clearing, ending fossil fuel extraction, incentivising regenerative agricultural practices, better managing watersheds, and restoring the small water cycle.

Fusion also wants to make a ten-year transition to negative emissions, modernise Australia’s transport networks via high-speed rail and electric vehicles, and sequester carbon dioxide. 

Read More

Trumpet of Patriots 

It’s pretty difficult to get through an election cycle without seeing an ad for the Trumpet of Patriots, formerly known as the United Australia Party. This minor party has a few policies that it’s campaigning for in this election, however, few are in favour of the environment.

Trumpet of Patriots wants Australia to exit the Paris Agreement, repeal the ban on nuclear energy, and end government subsidisation of energy, and let the free market decide the cheapest and most reliable source of power.

Read More

Lambie Network

The Jacqui Lambie Network is another minor party that’s campaigning with a very small number of policies.

These are mainly focused on anti-corruption, pro-veteran support, and increasing Australian manufacturing.

The main mention of energy by the Lambie Network is a policy on a national gas reservation to help make gas and electricity prices cheaper.

Read More

Animal Justice Party

As the name suggests, the Animal Justice Party is campaigning for extensive animal rights protections in this upcoming election.

It also has several policies outlining climate action and claims to be the only party that’s addressing the impact of animal agriculture on emissions.

The Animal Justice Party supports all clean energy sources, the immediate end of native forest logging, water management that’s responsive to climate change, and the proactive restoration and preservation of functioning ecosystems through rewilding.

Read More

The Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia is a small political party that focuses on First Nations people and their rights.

It has some incredibly important policies regarding the climate and environment, including a return to sustainable traditional land management, protecting the Baaka, Martuwarra, and all natural rivers in Australia, and supporting our farmers by better managing water resources.

Read More

So there you have it! There are the climate and environment stances and policies from all the major parties, plus a bunch of minor ones too. Hopefully, this helps you know which parties and politicians to vote for when it comes time to Put The Planet First on election day.

Feature photo by Alex Parsons