The Greens will vote with Labor to pass the government’s climate bill, leader Adam Bandt has confirmed.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Bandt said: “the Greens have improved a weak climate bill, but the fight to stop Labor opening new coal and gas mines continues.

“And in this parliament, the only obstacle to greater climate ambition is Labor. People need to be clear-eyed about the importance of this bill and that this government is bringing a bucket of water to a house fire.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has confirmed his party will vote with Labor to pass the government's climate bill.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has confirmed his party will vote with Labor to pass the government’s climate bill. (Sydney Morning Herald)

“Worse, even this smallest of steps on the road to tackling the climate emergency could be wiped out by just one of the 114 new coal and gas projects in the government’s investment pipeline.

“The fight begins now to get Labor to stop opening coal and gas mines.”

The bill updates Australia’s obligations under the Paris Agreement – committing to a 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

It hands authority back to the Climate Change Authority to monitor Australia’s progress, and also requires the Minister for Climate Change, Chris Bowen, to report  annually to Parliament on Australia’s progress towards these targets.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (9News)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is “very confident” the bill will pass through the lower house following Bandt’s announcement.

“This is an opportunity to end the climate wars,” Albanese said.

He urged the Coalition to agree to the climate bill so the “whole of parliament can be on the right side of history”.

“If the Coalition decide to break with their rhetoric and actually come to the table and listen to the business community who are saying that what we need is investment certainty… investment in clean and cheap energy,” Albanese said.

On Tuesday, the Coalition confirmed it will vote against the 43 per cent climate target.

What sea level rise will look like around the globe

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said today is a “good day for Australia”, the economy and “the future” as the government embarks on passing its climate bill.

“The climate wars may not be over, but they are certainly in retreat,” Bowen said.

Bowen echoed Albanese’s confidence that the bill will pass through the lower house after the Greens leader Adam Bandt confirmed the party would vote with Labor.

“We do not need this legislation to get on with the agenda but we wanted the legislation to send the message to the world that Australia is open to business when it comes to renewable energy,” he said.

You May Also Like

Trump Throws Sly Shade At Don Jr. (& We Bet Kimberly Guilfoyle Is Chuckling)

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Always loving an opportunity to throw shade…

‘The Night Agent’: Everything We Know (so Far) About Season 3

As another season of The Night Agent hits Netflix (it premiered in…

NCAA: No More 'Trans Women' Competing in Women's Sports

Yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order which would ban trans women…

Angelina Jolie says daughter Shiloh ‘hates’ the celebrity life: ‘It’s not a normal thing’

Fame is a drug that Angelina Jolie’s daughter Shiloh is not interested…