Press release – 12 December, 2015Sydney, 13 December 2015 – Commenting on Australia’s negotiating position at Paris after the release of the final draft from the UN climate talks, David Ritter, Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer, said:"Australia went into these talks with an embarrassing emissions target that came from the fossil fuel lobby and its influence on government energy policies.
"The thing most in our favour on the international stage was that Tony Abbott was no longer leading our country.
"It’s time for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to shake off the climate policy hangover left by Tony Abbott and his band of climate deniers, and face a new day.
"Discussions at COP21 confirmed that investors globally are leery of being exposed to the financial risk now associated with fossil fuel assets.
"In Australia, we’ve seen the major banks backing away from fossil fuel investments. Yet the government continues with its increasingly desperate campaign to convince us that coal is good for humanity.
"Their dogged attempt to push through the massive Carmichael coal mine in the face of ever-sliding coal prices bucks global trends and sentiment about moving away from dirty fossil fuels.
"There was recognition in Paris that a global energy system based on renewables is the foundation for climate action going forward.
"We already have the technology to make a full transition to renewable energy in Australia, but much more political courage is needed to phase out fossil fuels and commit ourselves to a sunny future. Without this vision, Australians will be left behind in the global economy.
"The government must demonstrate its commitment to change with more policies to support development of the renewables industry, and set firm targets for the phase-in of renewables on a nationwide basis.
"Australia is now in a position to lead this shift, where it has been a laggard in other respects on climate change."