Under the new ‘Clean Air Agreement’ NSW has opted for air pollution standards below World Health Organisation guidelines.

State ministers were divided on appropriate levels of the dangerous PM10 particles. According to reports, the decision to allow a threshold over WHO recommendations was driven by NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman. Stricter standards have been self-imposed by Victoria and the ACT.

The decisions have implications for WestConnex and the levels of emissions released by traffic along its route.

Member for Newtown and Greens spokesperson for WestConnex Jenny Leong MP said: “We don’t have to look far to see why the NSW Government is so opposed to meeting the recommended levels for PM10 pollution given that the polluting WestConnex tollway, one of the state’s most significant infrastructure projects, won’t meet those standards.

The Greens today supported the petition to protect the koala population in the Blackwall Range area.

Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong and Senator Larissa Waters are calling for the Department of Environment to protect Green and Golden Bell Frog habitats from WestConnex.

A Roads and Maritime Services NSW (RMS) referral of proposed action to the Federal Department of Environment seeks to gain permission to use a significant portion of Kogarah Golf Club in Arncliffe for construction and tunneling for at least three years, despite including the habitat of a threatened species.

Recognising the incredible work by the members of Stop CSG Sydney over many years in stopping the spread of coal seam gas in the inner west and throughout Sydney. 

The Greens stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of New South Wales, Australia and the world in recognising the need to protect our precious marine parks, national parks, native vegetation and biodiversity on World Environment Day. Read our full statement below. 

The Greens were founded on the vision of a robust and healthy environment. We'll always stand to protect our precious places now and for future generations.  It was one of our founding principles, and today it remains as important as ever. 

The Greens’ commitment to our precious places has never been more important. Around our nation our environment is being impacted by global warming, unsustainable development and mining and pollution - with the full support of the Liberal, National and Labor parties.

NSW’s environment is under threat from the most anti-environment government the State has seen. Our national parks have been declared open for shooters. Our marine environments are under threat. Species continue to vanish at record rates.

The Liberal, National and Labor parties refuse to admit that coal is a huge part of our global climate change problem. In doing so, they are signing the death warrants for some of our most precious natural places. They’re approving massive new mines, offshore drilling and new coal seam gas wells, and enjoy huge corporate donations from fossil fuel interests.

Our precious natural places are national icons. They’re internationally known, provide jobs and investment in our tourism sector and are the lifeblood of our communities. The Greens will not let them be lost to vested interests, a lack of political courage and an obsession with the industries of the past.

From St Peters to Northern NSW, we are working with communities to defend our land and water from gas mining. We are supporting sustainable, local food, and we are forming new alliances that can transform NSW.

Our plan for the environment would:

• Close down coal-fired power stations in NSW by 2030.
• Stand up for local communities against CSG mining.
• End shooting in our national parks.
• Put a price on pollution to reflect the full environmental, ecological and health costs.
• Protect marine habitats and species through a system of marine parks.
• Move towards a ‘zero waste’ society through recycling and waste minimisation strategies.

The Greens will proudly stand for the environment now and into the future.

Global warming puts our health, our economy and our precious places at risk. There is no escaping this reality.

But the climate challenge is also an opportunity to transform Australia into a carbon-neutral powerhouse that creates new jobs and a cleaner planet.

The world has embraced clean energy. The Greens' plans will bring on the next wave of technologies to help reduce our reliance on coal and gas fired power through a distributed energy system, including community-owned renewable energy generation, battery storage, electric vehicles and fast, affordable public transport systems.

Australians are one of the world’s highest per capita producers of greenhouse gas emissions and the biggest exporters of coal. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is taking positive action on tackling climate change.

Both Labor and Coalition governments in NSW have delivered disastrous environmental outcomes for NSW, including the rampant expansion of coal seam gas exploration and the privatisation of the electricity sector. There has been a complete failure to invest in a renewable energy economy.

We need to make NSW world leaders in taking action on climate change. The Federal Greens demanded Labor introduce legislation to seriously address climate change, through putting a price on carbon.
The Greens in NSW are working to:

• Continue to introduce legislation in NSW that will increase renewable energy production, allowing the closure of all coal-fired power stations by 2030.
• Create tens of thousands of jobs in the clean energy economy, including retraining and guaranteed work for displaced workers in the fossil fuel industry.
• Support an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emission (of 1990 levels) by 2050.
• Achieve 100% clean renewable electrical energy in NSW by 2030

*Authorised by Jenny Leong 383 King St Newtown 2042. Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.