Her plan would include a ban on sporting sponsorships, in a bid to combat “greenwashing”, where companies claim environmental credentials they don’t necessarily have.

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“It’s wrong that these companies that are causing so much damage and who are behind the terrible climate disasters we’re now continually facing are able to run public advertising campaigns showing wind turbines and solar panels, or to have their names on the uniforms of our children’s sports teams,” Ms Higginson said on Tuesday.

She says public health concerns should motivate the ban because climate change is “the biggest public health crisis we’re facing”.

The Sustainability Summit also heard from “teal independent” Federal MPs Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender, Kylea Tink and Dr Sophie Scamps, who swept into Parliament in March on a platform of climate action and government integrity.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink said the emergence of the “teals” had caused a “fundamental shift” in the political debate.

“I find it fascinating that more often than not, the headlines are saying what the crossbench is doing to hold the government to account - not the opposition,” she said.

“It’s been fascinating. I feel almost like we’ve been used like a focus group by the government. They develop draft legislation, and then they bring it to us to kind of go, what do you think?”

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender said now the emissions reduction targets were law, Australia couldn’t afford to “backslide” on climate action.

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“I think the next phase is to say, how do we get to at least 50 per cent by 2030 in our own emissions, but also how do we unlock Australia as a clean energy superpower?”

- With AAP

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