NSW Labor would spend $150 million creating new national parks, install low-energy lighting in the state's hospitals and establish a new body to improve degraded rivers, under what party leader Luke Foley says is the most comprehensive environment policy ever released in Australia.

Speaking at Wentworth Falls on Tuesday in the marginal seat of Blue Mountains, which Labor hopes to win back from the Liberals, Mr Foley released his "unapologetically bold" pledge, which also includes enshrining in law a 20 per cent renewable energy target for NSW by 2020, removing "draconian" restrictions on wind farm approvals and spending $4 million to support voluntary wildlife carers.

He also repeated existing policies such as a statewide moratorium on coal seam gas, a 315,000 hectare koala reserve in northern NSW and the creation of a Sydney Marine Park.

"[This is] the most comprehensive environment policy that any political party has ever put to an election anywhere in Australia," Mr Foley said.

"There can be no new approach for NSW without a bold agenda for environmental protection and climate change."

Mr Foley, also Labor's environment spokesman, promised to champion environmental protection alongside social welfare and economic growth when he became the party's leader.

He rejected suggestions the policy was a bid to win back disaffected voters who defected to the Greens at the last election.

"It's in the finest tradition of NSW Labor at its best … this is one of the passions of my public life," he said.

"Those great premiers Neville Wran and Bob Carr saved the rainforests, delivered historic regional forest agreements, introduced the first emissions trading scheme in the world. We are doing this because we believe it."

If elected, Labor would spend $150 million to create new national parks including the Great Koala National Park inland from Coffs Harbour, and others in northern and western NSW. Exact locations are yet to be determined.

Mr Foley flagged improving wildlife links in the Paroo-Darling National Park as a priority. Other new areas of national parks would be based on the Office of Environment's priority reservation list. It may involve acquiring private land and buying logging entitlements.

If elected, Labor would also convene a NSW koala summit, involving wildlife workers, scientists and other experts. The last summit was held in 1988. Koalas are at threat of extinction in northern NSW.

A Healthy Rivers Commission would be established to improve the health of NSW's rivers and tributaries. Mr Foley said only 3 per cent of NSW's rivers are considered healthy, making them the most degraded in the nation.

The Baird government wants to partially lease the electricity network's "poles and wires", but Mr Foley said maintaining the network in public hands would have an environmental payoff, supporting the growth of decentralised and renewable energy, including battery storage.

A Labor government would spend $37.4 million replacing fluorescent and incandescent lighting in public hospitals with low-energy LED lighting. Mr Foley said this would cut power bills by about $72.6 million over 15 years. The savings would be directed back to the health system, after the costs of replacing lights was recouped.

The Abbott government has indicated it will weaken the national renewable energy target.

Mr Foley said the best way to provide certainty to the state's renewables industry was to legislate a target that 20 per cent of the electricity consumed in NSW in 2020 must come from renewable sources.

Among the wind-farm approvals restrictions to be lifted would be "arbitrary" setbacks from homes. However the industry would be encouraged to properly consult communities and would be subject to planning laws.

Labor would also establish an Office of Renewables within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. A $6 million fund would pay for renewables proposals by councils and communities.

It would spend $14 million investing in renewable energy in the Hunter region, and create consumer protections for households with solar energy, ensuring those who sell power back to the grid get a fair price. Presently, power companies are not obliged to pay anything for energy generated by households, but can sell that energy on to consumers.

Labor would also source power for NSW government departments from renewable sources "where possible".

"By supporting the growth of the renewable energy sector in NSW we will boost jobs and create greater economic opportunity," Mr Foley said.

"Labor's plan for a green energy future to address the threat of climate change stands in stark contrast to the Liberals, who are high on rhetoric rather than action."

Environment Minister Rob Stokes said the government was "protecting the state's threatened species with record funding" and boosting renewable energy and energy efficiency through "world-leading new programs".

The government had created 11 new national parks and reserves and added 84,000 hecatres to existing parks, he said, adding Labor would need $400 million to manage the new parks. Labor disputed the figure.

Mr Stokes said the government was investing $350 million in energy efficiency across NSW hospitals and government departments, and had provided $1.3 million to renewable energy community projects over the past 18 months.

Nature Conservation Council of NSW chief executive Kate Smolski welcomed the plan, but said Labor must do more to limit coal and coal seam gas mining.

Mr Foley was joined by Labor MP Adam Searle, Blue Mountains candidate Trish Doyle and former NSW Labor environment minister Bob Debus.

The Blue Mountains seat, much of it national park, was won by Liberal MP Roza Sage in 2011 by a 4.7 per cent margin. This increased to 5.4 per cent after a boundary change.

Labor is hoping a swing away from the government this month will see Ms Doyle bring the seat back to the party fold.

<a href="/interactive/2015/nsw-election/electorates/electorates.html?el=Blue Mountains" _rte_href="/interactive/2015/nsw-election/electorates/electorates.html?el=Blue Mountains">Key facts on NSW electorates</a>