What current actions are being taken by the Australian government to prevent further climate damage?
This is a very important question! The government play a key role in climate action by making laws and requirements that Australians across the country must abide by.
This year, the new government produced a Climate Act which includes the Australia’s first-ever national emissions target. The act means that the government commits to reducing 43% greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 43% by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. Even though a 43% target is not ambitious enough to avoid some major climate impacts – such as extreme floods, fires and droughts – this target can be increased over time and we hope it will be.
The Climate Act also says that the Minister for Climate Change and Energy (currently Chris Bowen) must present a climate change statement for Australia every year. This statement must take advice from the Climate Change Authority – who are a group of independent experts that provide advice to the Australian Government on climate change. This advice is important because it means that government decisions on climate change will be informed by expert knowledge on climate, and not just political views.
The government’s budget can also show us what actions and changes it is prioritising. Every government must outline how they will spend national money and where they will spend it - for example, on schools, hospitals, public transport, and everything else. Compared to previous governments, this new government has invested much more in actions for mitigating and curbing climate change, which is good news! For example, it has have promised $47.1m to the Climate Change Authority. It has also allocated $102.2m for a community solar banks program to improve access to clean energy for lots of communities, and $275m for electric vehicle charging stations to help speed up Australia’s transition from burning fossil fuel.
These are all great changes in Australia’s effort to take action on reducing climate impacts, but the government needs to continuing making changes and doing more if we are to reduce climate impacts here in Australia and across the world. Engage your local politicians - maybe invite them to your classroom! - to ask and encourage them to make climate action a priority. Even though you are not old enough to vote yet, you still have an important voice and can make that heard 😊
