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You can't go forwards on nature by going backwards on climate.

Climate Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER, 2025

You can’t go forwards on nature by going backwards on climate.

With the Coalition still questioning Australia’s commitment to net zero, any deal between the Albanese Government and the Coalition on national environment law reform is likely to be a disaster for the climate, the Climate Council warns.

New research from the Climate Council shows that abandoning net zero and Australia’s other climate targets, as advocated by members of the Federal Coalition, could unleash 6.3 billion tonnes of climate pollution, and aligns with 3°C of global heating. The analysis finds under this 3ºC scenario, Australia would face a future of relentless disasters and economic upheaval:

  • 4 times the number of severe and extreme heatwave days

  • 1.5 million Australians would be exposed to coastal flooding by 2050, and 3 million people by 2090

  • Double the number of extreme fire days

  • Vast regions becoming uninsurable

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “You can’t go forwards on nature by going backwards on climate. Right now, the Coalition is debating whether to oppose Australia’s foundational net zero target. Partnering with a party still struggling with climate denial would be a dangerous bet with Australia’s future.”

Ms McKenzie said the Coalition’s ongoing farcical debate on net zero and poor track record on climate shows it is incapable of delivering credible action on climate: “The Coalition is trapped in the dark ages, squabbling over the basics while the rest of the world races ahead with clean energy and stronger climate targets,” she said.

“Abandoning net zero would mean abandoning a safer future for Australians. It means supercharged, climate-driven floods, fires and heatwaves that are already hitting our communities hard, and the soaring cost of insurance premiums and recovery bills that come with them.” 

“Farmers, tourism operators and regional towns would bear the brunt of worsening droughts and extreme weather. Coastal communities would face more flooding and damage to homes and infrastructure. Those in the Coalition advocating for scrapping net zero should answer how they plan to pay for the huge damage bill.”

“A deal with the Coalition on our environment law reform could be worse than the current broken laws, and would damage the Albanese Government’s own climate credibility. 

"The Government's proposed reforms have a number of gaping problems: they fail to address climate pollution - the biggest threat to the environment; they will undermine our climate progress by denying the government power to limit climate pollution from massive fossil fuel projects; and they may speed up fossil fuel project approvals despite the harm they cause. Partnering with the Coalition would only see the bill watered down further, dragging Australia's climate progress backwards."

“Labor has a simple choice: partner with the climate wreckers, or stand with the millions who want our wildlife and the environment protected from climate harm.”

ENDS

For interviews please contact the Climate Council media team on [email protected] or call 0485 863 063.

The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.

For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au

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