Let the Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek know you're unhappy with the delays on legislating the new environment laws. Email her today!

The old laws hark from the Howard era - they're 25 years old!

We need laws that look after our environment and for future generations, rather than big fossil fuel interests. Laws that will help stop new fossil fuel projects so our emissions can come down, and will protect our water and environment from fracking and other projects.

First Dog's cartoon in the Guardian today had a great statement about Tanya: "Every environment minister before Tanya Plibersek has failed us and for every minister after her it will be too late to do anything. So Tanya is the one.”

While you're at it, email the Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen as well, asking him to use his influence in cabinet and caucus to push this issue.

If you need help getting started there's an example email here.

You can check out the cartoon here.

If every country lived like we do in Australia, the world would have exceeded the demand for ecological resources and services that Earth can regenerate this year by 5 April !

A country’s overshoot day is the date on which Earth Overshoot Day would fall if all of humanity consumed like the people in that country. Overshoot Day for the whole planet last year was 2 August.  What can you do? Individual actions count but government actions are way more powerful. Tell your MP Australia needs to be more sustainable, and we need legislation to make this happen. You could start by demanding the government speed up the revised EPBC Act (called the Nature Positive Act). For tips on how to engage with your MP and more info on the proposed new legislation see the briefing on our webpage. Or call the office of Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to demand urgent reform of our nature laws. Tips here

(If you want calculate you individual ecological footprint you can do it here.)

From 350.org:

BREAKING: The Albanese Government has caved to the mining lobby and are scrapping their commitments to environment law reform. This could ruin our shot at fixing the laws that continue to approve fossil fuels in a climate crisis. Use your voice now to raise the alarm with the Minister’s office.

Europe’s top human rights court has ruled the Swiss government had violated the human rights of its citizens by failing to do enough to combat climate change. The landmark case was brought by 2000 Swiss women and the decision will set a precedent for future climate lawsuits around the world, including (hopefully) Australia!

Meanwhile, in Australia, Torres Strait Islanders won their latest UN case  about their human rights in the face of rising sea levels. However, here in Australia their legal action with the Australian Government is ongoing. We'll have a new issue briefing on this soon.

The public comment period for the proposed offshore gas project in the Otway Basin (Victoria) has been extended to 20 May 2024. If you haven't put in a submission already you can do it here.

It's easier than you think to comment and every submission counts! You don't have to be an expert - 2-3 paragraphs of your thoughts is enough.

The project was proposed in 2021 to alleviate Victoria's apparent gas shortage. Beach Energy discovered a gas reserve about 2km below the sea floor just 450 metres outside the Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. This project is incredibly short-sighted as the resulting emissions will contribute to the climate crisis while degrading one of Australia’s most prized marine national parks, endangering marine life and potentially ruining local tourism and fishing industries. 

If you need some ideas to get you started check out the issue briefing on the MPEG webpage.

At the March Zoom MPEG, Mike Pulsford, Campaign Manager for Parents for Climate spoke about their “Solar Our Learning” campaign, which visited Canberra last week to ask the federal government for solar panels on all schools, kindergartens and childcare centres across the country. P4C’s research shows if every school was powered by renewable energy, at least one coal-fired power station could be closed and there would be lower energy costs for all schools.

Mike is asking for help to promote the “Solar our Learning” campaign in your interactions with schools and MPs.

P4C also have an organisational open letter asking governments to support schools and childcares to install solar. Can your organisation sign the letter?