WWF WELCOMES ALP POLICY OF FEDERAL LAWS TO STOP EXCESSIVE TREE CLEARING

WWF welcomes ALP policy of federal laws to stop excessive tree clearing.

WWF-Australia today welcomed the ALP policy of “federal legislation to bring broad-scale land clearing under control”.

“Federal laws to stop the bulldozing of forests could provide a lifeline for koalas which are on track to become extinct in New South Wales as early as 2050,” said WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O’Gorman.

“Ending excessive tree-clearing would help the vast majority of Australia’s threatened species,” Mr O’Gorman said.

Australia is the only developed country on a list of the world’s deforestation hot spots.

Mr O’Gorman said that the ALP’s proposed new laws to control broad-scale clearing would also require mechanisms in place to enforce them, if our unique wildlife is to be saved.

WWF-Australia said other initiatives announced today were also positive.

“Labor’s plan to cut the nation’s emissions across the transport, manufacturing and energy sectors is a big step forward for Australia’s role in tackling climate change,” Mr O’Gorman said.

WWF-Australia’s recently released policy, WWF’s plan for Australia’s iconic wildlife and oceans, highlighted that Australia needs to urgently reduce emissions by 45-55% by 2025 and by 65-85% by 2030, if we are to meet the Paris Agreement targets of keeping temperature rises to 1.5 degrees and well below 2 degrees.

WWF-Australia welcomed Labor’s re-announcement of its commitment to 50% renewable energy for the electricity sector by 2030.

WWF-Australia has been calling for the major parties to adopt renewable energy targets of 100% renewable electricity by 2035, and this target is a positive step.