Emissions Intensity Scheme or Low Emissions Target

Q. An “emissions intensity scheme” and a “low emissions target” are two policy options which aim to reduce Australia’s carbon emissions.=

An emissions intensity scheme is designed to increase the cost of electricity production from high-emitting sources (like coal and gas) while decreasing the cost of less polluting sources (like renewables).

A low emissions target would expand the current Renewable Energy Target to include non-renewable electricity sources with emissions intensities below a certain limit. Depending on the emissions limit, this could include certain types of coal and gas technologies.

Which of the proposals would you prefer?

	Total		Vote Labor	Vote Lib/Nat	Vote Greens	Vote Other
Emissions intensity scheme (EIS)	20%		24%	14%	46%	12%
Low emissions target (LET)	45%		46%	51%	31%	48%
Don’t know	36%		29%	35%	23%	40%

 

45% preferred an LET, 20% preferred an EIS, and 36% did not know which proposal they preferred.

Those most likely to prefer an LET were those aged 65+ (51%), Liberal/National voters (51%) and those earning over $104k per year (50%).

Greens voters were the only demographic group which preferred an EIS to a LET, with 46% preferring an EIS.