Thread by @David_Ritter

Yesterday, @ScottMorrisonMP announced his government’s new electric vehicle strategy.
Unfortunately, just like his net zero ‘plan’ - the ‘strategy’ is just more empty guff - lacking any substance to achieve emissions reductions.
Here’s a thread on why:
#COP26 #auspol

First, the Morrison government has refused to implement fuel efficiency standards, requiring cars to become cleaner over time. This is a tried and tested EV uptake tactic & the bare minimum - adopted by more than 80% of the global vehicle market:
abc.net.au/news/2021-10-1…

Thanks to these lax environmental standards - which have been called out by global auto-makers time and time again - there is no reason for manufacturers to ship to Australia, and no reason to invest at home:
abc.net.au/news/science/2…

Second, the ‘plan’ also refuses to offer rebates or subsidies to make electric & hybrid vehicles more affordable. Countless evidence shows these are key to increasing electric vehicle uptake & the policy is backed by key Australian economists:
theconversation.com/top-economists…

Despite touting the woes of subsidies, Morrison spends billions of Australian taxpayers money on fossil fuel subsidies, which are still at an all-time high, and have seen the largest increase since the Paris Agreement of any G20 nation:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Third, the ‘strategy’ aims to achieve 30% of new car sales as EVs by 2030 - but even this low ambition is not locked in with sales targets. Countries like the US have a 50% sales target for EVs by 2030:
reuters.com/business/autos…

In a lot of places things are moving even faster - Norway and South Korea have announced a ban on new petrol & diesel car sales from 2025, the UK, Germany, India & Israel from 2030, Canada & Japan from 2035, and China, Singapore & Sri Lanka from 2040.
theguardian.com/environment/20…

Due to these many failings, this ‘strategy’ will also have almost no effect on Australia’s national emissions - with the projected 8m tonne reduction equating to just 1.6% emissions reduction over the next 14 years.

Transport is the biggest category of Australian emissions behind electricity generation - nearly 20% of the national total - so to secure a safe future for our kids and planet, we must be cutting emissions far more rapidly than this measly effort.
grattan.edu.au/report/towards…

To make this work, we need to decarbonise our electricity so transport solutions are powered by renewable electricity. A key step here is closing all coal-burning power stations by 2030 (as supported by the IEA), another critical action Morrison refuses.
iea.org/reports/net-ze…

The real kicker is the ample evidence from across the world of the varied benefits - environmentally, economically and health-wise - that proper EV investment can bring and roadmaps to get there.
climateworksaustralia.org/news/australia…

In contrast, here at home States are once again being forced to lead the way, as with climate, to overcome the Morrison government’s intransigence. NSW and Victoria are already aiming for EVs to make up 50% of new car sales by 2030:
climateanalytics.org/publications/2…

The IEA has found from 2018 to 2020 electric cars registered a 40% year-on-year increase thanks to ambitious policy announcements across the globe. In contrast, Australia’s EV uptake in 2020 was under 2%:
iea.org/reports/global…

Continuing on this trajectory, we’ll be left as a dumping ground for polluting, old vehicles no one else wants, missing out on domestic manufacturing opportunities with access to only limited EV options.
theconversation.com/scott-morrison…

We have the opportunity to electrify everything - helping the planet, our health and our wallets.
In the words of @GriffithSaul: Australia is “the country for whom electrifying everything is the best economic win the shortest amount of time”:
abc.net.au/news/science/2…

Surveys have shown that over half of all Australians want to purchase EVs, but are locked out due to the dismal policies from the Morrison government - which have received no substantial update in this ‘strategy’:
electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/wp-content/upl…

This is just another example of Scott Morrison refusing to listen to the will of his constituents and act on climate, instead choosing vested interests over the Australian people.
Whose side is he on? Oil, coal and gas.