SYDNEY, Feb 22, 2019 – New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian was greeted by a seven-metre high inflatable cooling tower along with calls to replace coal with renewable energy such as solar and wind, as she arrived at an economic forum in Sydney this morning.The Liberal leader was welcomed by smiling volunteers from Greenpeace and the Nature Conservation Council, who were holding signs urging her to “stop ignoring the climate crisis” as she entered the CEDA 2019 Political and Economic Overview at the Shangri La in Sydney.
“There’s only one month to go until the New South Wales election and the Liberals and their leader, Gladys Berejiklian, still haven’t come up with a plan to replace our ageing and increasingly unreliable coal power stations with clean, modern sources of energy,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Campaigner, Holly Dawson, said.
“Coal is polluting our air and water and making people sick. Fish kills and deadly bushfires are reminders that the climate is changing. It’s time for Gladys Berejiklian to demonstrate leadership and show that the Liberal Party can also change – and cast off years of denial by doing something to meet the climate crisis.”
So far the Liberal Party has failed to come up with a policy to encourage more investment in renewables and has actually forecast coal exports to surge despite having a net-zero emissions target. [1]
Greenpeace activists outside the venue handed out flyers detailing the environmental advocacy organisations’ policy requests for an incoming NSW government.
Climate advocacy groups including Greenpeace, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, and Solar Citizens, are calling on all parties contesting the NSW election to ensure:
- The NSW Government tenders for at least 4000 MW of large-scale clean power, along with large-scale battery storage;
- All government operations are powered with 100 percent renewable energy, including schools and public hospitals during the next government (2019-2023);
- Every household (including low-income and rental properties) can access solar power within 10 years by introducing a Solar For All Rebate and helping families with solar install batteries;
- Doubling New South Wales’ energy productivity by 2030 by investing in a range of energy efficiency programs; and
- Legislate for net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, and ensure all government decisions consider the impact of policies on climate change.
Notes:
For photos and video:
https://media.greenpeace.org/Share/n01h663o2tl2ve6ww73r70wrpffc35sn
For interviews:
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner, Martin Zavan
0424 295 422