"Australia’s ‘Climate Election’ Finally Arrived. Will It Be Enough?"

"Voters rejected the deny-and-delay approach that has made Australia a global laggard on emission cuts. But how far the new government will go remains to be seen."

"SYDNEY, Australia — A few minutes after taking the stage to declare victory in Australia’s election on Saturday, Anthony Albanese, the incoming Labor prime minister, promised to transform climate change from a source of political conflict into a generator of economic growth.

“Together we can end the climate wars,” he told his supporters, who cheered for several seconds. “Together we can take advantage of the opportunity for Australia to be a renewable energy superpower.”

With that comment and his win — along with a surge of votes for candidates outside the two-party system who made combating global warming a priority — the likelihood of a significant shift in Australia’s climate policy has suddenly increased.

How far the country goes will depend on the final tallies, which are still being counted. But for voters, activists and scientists who spent years in despair, lamenting the fossil fuel industry’s hold on the conservatives who have run Australia for most of the past three decades, Saturday’s results amount to an extraordinary reversal."

Damien Cave reports for the New York Times May 22, 2022.

SEE ALSO:

"Australia Election: Anthony Albanese Signals Climate Policy Change" (BBC News)

"‘Renewable Energy Superpower’: Australia Votes For Climate Action" (Aljazeera)

"Australia Votes For Climate Action With Rejection Of Coal-Loving PM Scott Morrison" (South China Morning Post)

"How Albanese’s Practical Pivot On Climate Paved The Way For A Greens Surge" (Guardian)

"Analysis: Australian Women Unleash New Political Force On Climate, Integrity" (Reuters)

Source: NYTimes, 05/23/2022