Greens blast key part of Labor's climate policy as 'fake action'

Party says allowing heavy polluters to use international permits to meet emissions reduction targets allows companies to 'keep polluting at home'

The Greens are positioning to torpedo a key element of Labor's new climate policy in the event Bill Shorten wins the federal election in May, telegraphing strong opposition to heavy polluters using international permits to meet their emissions reduction targets.

The thumbs-down from the Greens, who will likely be the critical Senate bloc post-election in the event of a Labor victory, comes as the politically influential motoring lobby has also signalled it will push back on Labor's proposal to introduce vehicle efficiency standards for light vehicles that would bring Australia broadly into line with carbon pollutions standards for cars in the US.