CHEMICAL engineer Janet Murray said her science training left her in no doubt about the reality of climate change and man's role in the process.
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It's one of the main reason's she's standing as a candidate for the Greens in the seat of Hunter in Saturday's federal election.
She said she was determined to fight for "climate justice".
"As a chemical engineer, I am driven by facts, data and scientific research. Together with 97 per cent of the world's climate scientists, I accept climate change is real and that humans have been the key driver," Ms Murray said.
"According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the 20 warmest years on record have all been in the last 22 years, with the top four in the last four years.
"It's time to get our heads out of the sand, listen to the scientists, and take action on climate change."
The community will embrace a plan that also ensures today's mining and power workers have access to training
- - Greens candidate for Hunter, Janet Murray
Despite running for office in an electorate in which coal mining and coal-fired power stations have long ruled, Ms Murray said locals could be among the big winners to emerge from a change to renewable energy.
"The community will embrace a plan that also ensures today's mining and power workers have access to training that leads to meaningful employment in 21st-century jobs," she said.
The Greens had a clear plan to transition out of fossil fuel into publicly-owned renewable energy, which would result in cheaper power for all Australians, she said.
"Locally, it will lead to better air quality, better human health and eventually to less pollution of Lake Macquarie from coal ash dams.
"The transition plan supports diversifying the economy of coal communities and retraining today's mining and power workers, ensuring ongoing employment."
Access to free TAFE and university would ensure this training was available to those workers who needed it, and it would also encourage children to further their education, she said.
"I firmly believe that education is the only way to break the cycle of disadvantage."
Ms Murray lived in Lake Macquarie, including Coal Point, for 20 years, and now lives in Cessnock.