'Govt must rev up plans to cease our fossil fuel reliance'

THE Government has consistently vowed to tackle the climate crisis and to meet our carbon emissions targets by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and retrofitting homes.

- BY KEITH FALKINER

Environment group Friends of the Earth has highlighted five things to watch in Budget 2026 to assess the commitment to tackling the interlinked climate and cost of living crises.

It is urging the Government to use the spending review in a way that eases the burden on struggling communities and puts people, especially those most in need, before polluters.

Among the proposals include a plan to tackle energy poverty.

Households face among the highest electricity prices in the EU. Costs have forced almost 300,000 households into arrears on their electricity bills and over 180,000 households into debt for gas bills.

Budget 2026 must provide immediate relief while also putting in place lasting protections, such as an Energy Guarantee Scheme, for affordable, clean energy.

FOTE also wants the State to prioritize retrofitting homes, to make them warmer and more efficient. This would lead to lower bills, while raising housing standards.

The move would also cut pollution and improve health, all without driving up inflation.