Featured in Distributed bliss – 06-2022

Australia’s green swell

In May, Australia voted out its conservative government, which had held power for almost a decade. Instead, it turned to Labor, female independents, and minor parties with far greater climate ambitions. In short, it shifted to an entirely different approach to politics.

By

Bella Peacock

24 Jun 2022

Widespread fires in Australia over the past three years, as well as severe flooding in early 2022, brought environmental policy to the fore in the recent election. | Image: European Space Agency

For a country where politics has long been the domain of two male-dominated parties, Australia’s May election is a tectonic shift. Labeled a “greenslide” and a “teal” wave – a term originating from the independent candidates’ green slant – the result demonstrated the groundswell desire for climate action.While the main center-left party, Labor, just managed …

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