Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, comments on PWC's Low Carbon Economy Index report, out today:

"This is yet another report showing that the Turnbull Government's current climate policies won't meet its grossly inadequate 2030 pollution target.

"The report finds 'a step change in climate policy' will be required 'in the short term to achieve this goal'.

The Australian Greens say today's appointment of a Wind Farm Commissioner is a sign that Malcolm Turnbull will continue to pander to those in the Coalition who are intent on sending Australia backwards.

"Prime Minister Turnbull has wasted another opportunity to show he's any different to Tony Abbott. Australians don't need a wind farm commissioner, we need a plan to transition away from coal," said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.

"This is one of the tin-foil-hat wearing relics of the Abbott age."

With the release of the draft agreement for the Paris climate talks today, Malcolm Turnbull needs to boost our climate pollution reduction targets or else go down in history as a climate wrecker.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate spokesperson, said:  

"Malcolm Turnbull needs to go to Paris with targets based on science not Tony Abbott's targets based on climate denialism.  

"Malcolm Turnbull says he won't change Tony Abbott's targets and he has signed a deal with the Nationals to keep Australia's targets stuck in the past.

The Australian Greens acknowledge ANZ's commitments in its climate change statement released today, but urge ANZ and other banks to stop financing new coal mines and new coal power plants.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:

"ANZ and AGL say they want to keep global warming within 2 degrees and are taking some action but the Turnbull Government's climate policies are failing dismally to meet that goal.

The Australian Greens thank Bernie Fraser for his valuable contribution to saving our way of life and environment from global warming, as Chair of the Climate Change Authority, following his resignation last night.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, who will submit the below motion to the Senate today for a vote tomorrow, said:

"Mr Fraser has tolerated a government that has completely ignored the Climate Change Authority's evidence-based advice and even attempted to abolish the Authority.

"Tony Abbott should feel deeply ashamed when he is at the Pacific Islands Forum this week," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.

"Pacific nations want Australia to be a leader, not a laggard, on climate action.

"Australia is the biggest polluter per capita and Tony Abbott's plan is to keep it that way. Tony Abbott is even letting companies, especially mining companies, increase their pollution without any penalty.

With the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit on this week, the Australian Greens are urging the Abbott Government to finally show some regional leadership by acting on global warming and reinstating climate adaptation funding cut from aid.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:

"Our Pacific neighbours know all too well that coal is not good for humanity.

The Australian Greens congratulate NAB for announcing it will not finance Adani's Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin, planned for export through the Great Barrier Reef.

"NAB joins CommBank and 12 international banks in announcing they will not touch this white elephant," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.

"Adani's mine is as toxic to investors is as it is to the climate and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Abbott Government's carbon pollution safeguard mechanism, reported on today, will allow big businesses, especially mining companies, to keep polluting even more than they do today without facing any penalty.

"The government's so-called safeguard mechanism won't make anyone safer from climate change," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said.

"In a complete sop to big business, Minister Hunt says the government has no intention of fining any big polluters, making it clear that the mechanism is designed to fail.

The Australian Greens congratulate Ipswich City Council for its economically and environmentally responsible decision to transition away from coal mining by not supporting new coal mines or expansions.   

"This forward-thinking decision will make Ipswich, our state's fastest growing city, more liveable and healthy," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader, said.

"It gives Ipswich a competitive edge in embracing 21^st Century opportunities in clean energy, agriculture, transport, IT, research and advanced manufacturing.