Aussie voters can go online to compare parties green policies

VOTERS concerned about the climate change policies of the major political parties will be able to go online to check which policies are greener.

VOTERS concerned about the climate change policies of the major political parties will be able to go online to check which policies are greener in the lead up to the election.

The Climate Institute will recreate its "Pollute-o-Meter", used in the past two elections, to measure how the major election policies will help to meet carbon emissions reduction targets.

Institute chief executive John Connor said "carbon politics" would hit a key milestone in 2015 to see whether Australia is meeting its international reduction obligations.

He said the institute would be analysing the major policies to show how they would, or would not, help reduce emissions, accelerate renewable energy investment and prepare for the likely impacts of climate change.

"For the first time, The Climate Institute has included policy benchmarks that address the need to prepare for the climate momentum brought about by elevated greenhouse gas concentrations already in the atmosphere," he said.

"We have written to all significant parties and independents with these benchmarks and will publish assessments through the campaign.

"We will also again be measuring the abatement potential of the policies of the Coalition and the ALP with an in depth modelling exercise to be published with our Pollute-o-meter, a feature in the elections of 2007 and 2010."

Originally published as Aussie voters can go online to compare parties green policies