Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today hosted the launch of Greenpeace's Energy [R]evolution report at Parliament House, calling on both the Government and Opposition to get behind its positive yet conservative analysis of the potential for fast and deep emissions cuts.

Senator Milne said "Greenpeace's energy scenario is the latest in a line of credible analyses to show the enormous potential of energy efficiency, renewable energy and a shift to cleaner transport to see Australia leap frog coal and cut our emissions by almost half as soon as 2020, putting us on track to complete decarbonisation.

"This conservative analysis, by Greenpeace and very highly regarded energy expert, Dr Hugh Saddler, shows how Australia could meet a 40% renewable energy target by 2020, twice as high as the target set by the Rudd Government. We believe that solar thermal technologies could raise renewables significantly above even that level, and I have introduced a Private Member's Bill for a comprehensive national feed-in tariff which would see this massive uptake of zero emissions energy become a reality.

"Greenpeace and Saddler's analysis also focuses on the tremendous potential of energy efficiency to see us do more with less. The Greens' comprehensive policies to drive energy efficiency across the economy stand starkly next to the Rudd Government's ad hoc initiatives that fiddle around the edges while making no systemic change.

"The Rudd Government seems to have a good grasp already of the scale and urgency of the climate challenge we face, but has not yet understood the scale of the solution required. None of the relevant Ministers have yet got behind the exciting and positive vision of rebuilding Australia's economy for a fossil fuel free future.

"Instead of locking themselves into yesterday's energy sources, unproven pipedream technologies to try to clean them up, or marginal improvements Prime Minister Rudd and Ministers Wong, Garrett and Ferguson should be looking into the tremendous potential to shift our economy onto a new, clean and clever footing like the one proposed in Greenpeace's energy scenario.

"The Opposition has the opportunity to outflank the Government here, following the lead of the UK Tories, and drive better outcomes for the climate and the economy. But to do that, Brendan Nelson will have to drop his petrol price populism, lock in to Greg Hunt's advocacy of renewable energy, and learn the lessons that Greenpeace's analysis provides.

"I welcome Greenpeace's latest excellent contribution to Australia's climate debate."