Labor’s plan for transport emissions is long on ambition but short on details

In the run-up to May’s federal election, the federal Labor party has unveiled an ambitious plan to reduce Australia’s transport emissions.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has announced his
plan to reduce carbon emissions. 

The key targets are to have electric vehicles make up 50% of new car sales by 2030 and to introduce regulatory fuel emissions standards.

As Australia currently lacks federal policies to reduce or reverse petrol emissions, these goals are laudable. But it’s unclear how Labor will actually achieve them, especially if they remain reluctant to impose costs and tariffs on high-emitting cars – one of the most successful international strategies.

Read the piece from The Conversation by Anna Mortimer - “Labor’s plan for transport emissions is long on ambition but short on details.”

Sustainable shopping: with the right tools, you can find an eco-friendly car

Cars are vital to Australians. As of 2016, we have 18.4 million registered motor vehicles, producing vast amounts of carbon dioxide the combustion of fuels.

When we look at the latest car models we want fast cars,
 all-terrain cars or cars to fit the whole family. What about
an environmentally friendly car?

The harms of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel burning have been hammered home time and time again: they are the main driver of global warming and sea level rise, and they harm vulnerable communities. So how can our choice of car minimise these devastating outcomes?

Without reducing road transport emissions , the Australian Government will find it difficult to meet our climate target of a 26-28% reduction on 2005 emission levels by 2030.

A simple way to reduce transport emissions significantly is to guide consumers towards more fuel-efficient vehicles. Many other countries have minimum national standards for new cars, but no such targets currently exist in Australia.

Read the piece on The Conversation by a lecturer from the Griffith Business School at Griffith University, Anna Mortimore  - "Sustainable shopping: with the right tools, you can find an eco-friendly car.”