(Action from 350.org)

Can you leave a message for the Environment Minister?

Next week, Parliament will resume debate on our broken environment laws — the laws that should be stopping new coal and gas projects but they’re not.  With 30 coal and gas projects sitting on Tanya Plibersek’s desk right now waiting for approval, it's urgent that the Parliament adds a climate trigger to the Nature Positive Bill before them.

Here’s how it will work...

🌎 Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has the power to introduce a climate trigger which could stop new coal and gas projects.

📆 Sign up to join the month long Call-A-Thon roster and you’ll be sent the number to call, an easy set of talking points and a reminder to call when your time comes.

🌊 Together we’ll flood Plibersek’s phone lines and show her there is a wave of community support for taking real action on the climate crisis.

❓Why now? The debate on the national environmental law reforms will recommence this Monday 24th June in parliament — we need to make sure Minister Plibersek knows how strong the public support for a climate trigger is, and that we aren’t going anywhere!

The thing is, we know phone calls make a difference. Electoral office staff HAVE to log the calls and report on them. They are a sign of public sentiment on an issue.

Will you be part of this epic phone tactic? Check out the talking points and book in your time here. You’ll get a reminder when it’s your turn, and clear talking points to make the call super easy.

TAKE ACTION: make a submission to the Victorian Government's Inquiry into Climate Resilience

Are you passionate about the future of our environment? Do you have insights or ideas on how Victoria can better prepare for the impacts of climate change? Now is your chance to make a difference. The Victorian Government's Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee has extended the deadline for submissions to the Climate Resilience Inquiry to 28 June 2024. This is a crucial opportunity for both individuals and organisations to contribute to shaping a resilient future for Victoria.

Why Your Submission Matters

The inquiry is examining the major risks that climate change poses to Victoria's built environment and infrastructure. This includes understanding how these risks will affect the people of Victoria and assessing the government's current preparation efforts. Your insights could help address critical questions such as:

- What are the primary risks to our infrastructure due to climate change?
- How prepared is our government for future climate disaster events?
- What barriers exist in upgrading our infrastructure to withstand these impacts?

By submitting your perspectives, experiences, and recommendations, you can help inform strategies that ensure our communities are better protected and prepared for the challenges ahead.

How to Participate

Submitting to the inquiry is straightforward and impactful. Whether you are an expert in climate science, an advocate for environmental sustainability, or a concerned citizen with a unique viewpoint, your voice is invaluable. Here’s how you can make a submission:

1. Review the Terms of Reference: Understand the key areas the inquiry is focused on. This will help you align your submission with the committee’s objectives.
2. Prepare Your Submission: Clearly articulate your points, provide evidence or examples where possible, and make specific recommendations.
3. Submit by 28 June 2024: Ensure your submission is sent before the extended deadline to be considered.

Be Part of the Solution

Climate change is a pressing issue that requires collective action and diverse perspectives. By contributing to this inquiry, you are playing a part in shaping policies and initiatives that will enhance Victoria’s resilience to climate impacts. Your input could help identify innovative solutions and drive meaningful change in our approach to environmental planning and infrastructure development.

Don’t miss this opportunity to have your voice heard. Make a submission to the Climate Resilience Inquiry today and be a part of building a sustainable and resilient future for all Victorians.

For more information on how to make a submission, visit the Victorian Government's Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee’s website.

Together, we can make a difference.

(from The Post, Michael West Media, ABC, and Market Forces)

TAKE ACTION: Demand your super fund ditch climate wrecking companies

The top three superfunds with the biggest investments in high-emitting companies were UniSuper's balanced fund, Commonwealth Super Corp's PSS default, and MLC's MySuper Growth. The report found that the default investment option of Australia's largest super fund, AustralianSuper, had increased its investment in fossil fuels with a massive buy up of Woodside shares in 2022.

The combined 129 gigatonnes of emissions from expansion projects funded by the super funds would consume half of the remaining global carbon budget for keeping global warming to 1.5C. Woodside, Santos and Whitehaven are responsible for 59% of projected emissions from the fossil fuel expansion plans of companies in the average super fund's portfolio.

Almost all of the super funds analysed have signed up for net zero emissions by 2050 or acknowledge that climate change poses significant risks.

The sector is facing a crackdown from regulators, with the financial regulator ASIC launching its first legal action for greenwashing against Mercer Super for "allegedly making misleading statements about the sustainable nature" of some of its investment options.

It comes as the Labor Party grapples with an internal split over support for new gas projects, with the party risking the loss of urban seats to the Greens.

Support the AMSC and urge Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to protect our endemic sharks and rays.

In 2024, Tanya Plibersek, is reviewing three of Australia's most damaging fisheries.

Together, these fisheries are contributing to a global 'extinction risk hotspot’. We must put rules in place to protect these precious endemic species before they're gone forever.

The first two of these fisheries to be reviewed are in NSW - the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (OTLF), and the Ocean Trawl Fishery (OTF). 

We have 6 weeks to have our say!

Add your name to send an email urging Federal Environment Minister Plibersek to protect these species from fishing.

Support Lock the Gate's campaign to include a climate trigger in Australia's environment laws.

Our current federal environment laws are out-dated and ill-suited to dealing with the impacts of climate change on the environment. They were passed by the Howard government 25 years ago!

Labor had a welcome election promise to rewrite them and legislate stronger laws in their first term but it now appears they've been delayed again.

Back in 2005, Anthony Albanese introduced a Bill to address the problem, saying: “The glaring gap in matters of national environmental significance is climate change….It is time to act. It is time for procrastination to end.”

However, the Federal Government still hasn't done anything to make a safe and liveable climate a core consideration in our environment laws.

That’s incredibly weak, and it leaves Australia vulnerable to untold damage. Please take the pledge and join the campaign this year to put climate at the heart of environmental decisions.

Pretty much everyone who cares about the climate crisis and a safe future is angry about Labor's new Future Gas Strategy (announced last Thursday). Even Labor MPs are reacting to it and the party is divided.

It's spruiking more gas developments until beyond 2050, with no exit plan for gas. Despite the UN, IPCC and climate scientists saying no country can open new fossil fuel projects if we want to limit global heating. And we don't need more gas domestically or for exports - this is just smoke and mirrors by the gas lobby.

Let your local MPs know what you think about this. Calling their offices is the quickest action to take. Visit or email them too. Tell them: "No more gas or coal"!

You can watch a short summary of the strategy by Richard Denniss from The Australia Institute.

Or read the whole thing here.

There's also a great Juice media video here!

The Climate Council has joined Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action in calling on the Albanese Government to pause all polluting fossil fuel project approvals until the new national environment laws are legislated. 

The climate impacts of new developments must be properly considered in the approvals process.

Find out more about Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action here.

Seed Mob are calling for a total ban on fracked shale gas in the Northern Territory because it will irreparably damage our water, country and climate. 

Help by signing their petition here!

Across Australia, communities have faced a summer of devastating climate impacts, from cyclones and floods to sweltering heat waves. Yet fossil fuel companies are fueling the flames of the crisis, pushing ahead with risky coal and gas.

And, despite being elected in a historic wave of support for climate action, the Albanese government is still approving more coal and gas projects.

With an upcoming Federal Budget deciding what gets funding, now is a crucial moment to rise up and make your demands loud and clear: no approvals or handouts for coal and gas.

Many climate organisations are joining together for 10 days of action from Monday 29 April to Friday 10 May.

Find an action near you on these sites:

AYCC

Lock the gate

Move beyond Coal

350.org

MP Engagement session- 21 May 

Join us at our next online action session on Tuesday 21 May at 7.30pm (AEDT), with guest speaker Carmel Flint, Campaign Co-ordinator at Lock The Gate, who will share her experiences campaigning against gas developments, walking alongside First Nations people, and in Parliament.  This will be followed by the usual opportunity to take action on local and national campaigns or other current climate issues. We'll support you to put effective pressure on our Federal and State MPs by writing emails and planning calls and visits to them. If you're new to this activity there'll be plenty of help and all the resources you need to get started. RSVP here - We'd love you to join us again then. As usual, newbies and regulars all welcome!

Last session (April)...

• Talking points on gas
• Methane emissions - a guide to what MPs need to to make sure Methane emissions are properly recorded
• Water trigger - request the Environment Minister to call in project proposals - currently proponents are supposed to alert the Minister if their project will damage water resources but relies on self-report and honesty.
• Duty of care - the proposed new law

For more resources, check out the our dedicated issue briefings page. At the bottom of the page, in the speech bubbles, are tips for responding to MPs when they reply - or don't! Click on the pictures and links and explore of what's there. We also have templates for calling MPs about climate issues, and for asking your MP for a face-to-face appointment. You can also find links to other climate organisation's campaigns and petitions and useful links on this page.

We'd really appreciate if you could log your contact with elected reps here, or use the button on the webpage. This is important as enables us to assess the impact of MPEGs by tracking the number of emails, visits and calls that we all make.