Australia’s Greens back climate law but vow to fight coal, gas p rojects

Australia’s Greens party on Wednesday threw its support behind the government’s climate change legislation, clearing the way for a bill enshrining a pledge to cut carbon emissions by 43% by 2030, but said it would oppose new fossil fuel projects.
Australian politicians have been battling over climate policy for more than a decade, ever since the Greens opposed a carbon policy proposed by a Labor government in 2009.
The defeat of that policy started a string of U-turns on climate policy that led to the dumping of four prime ministers by their parties and was a major factor in the defeat of a conservative government in the last election in May.
The Greens party won a record number of seats in the May election, reflecting growing concern about climate change amid worsening bushfires and floods, and the government needs their support to get legislation through parliament.