Minister for Climate Change faces pressure as millions demand bold climate action

ESG: A coalition of over seven million Australians is urging the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, to adopt more ambitious climate targets that the nation can take pride in.

The Better Futures Australia alliance has put forth a compelling request in an open letter: set a new national climate goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2035 and raise Australia’s 2030 climate target from 43% to a bold 75% below 2005 levels. The government has until February 2025 to revise its national climate commitments to the United Nations.

This appeal follows the release of the largest global public opinion survey on climate change, conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the University of Oxford.

“The Australian government can’t ignore the fact that 80% of people globally [74% locally] want their governments to take stronger climate action, with 72% globally [69% locally] supporting a rapid move away from fossil fuels,” she said, citing the People’s Climate Vote 2024.

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner commented on the survey’s findings, saying “The survey results – unprecedented in their coverage – reveal a level of consensus that is truly astonishing.

“We urge leaders and policymakers to take note, especially as countries develop their next round of climate action pledges – or ‘nationally determined contributions’ (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.”

According to the Australia Institute, our nation is the world’s third largest fossil fuel exporter. Last year, state and federal governments gave $14.5 billion in subsidies to fossil fuels. With over 100 new fossil fuel projects in the development pipeline, as well as four new coal mines and at least 116 new gas wells approved since 2022, the government shows little intention of changing this status.

Lisa Cliff, Director of the Better Futures Australia program, stated “Australians want the government to take decisive action on climate change. By endorsing this letter, everyone has a greater voice in shaping what will be debated at COP29 in Azerbaijan.”

This week, Canberra is hosting the Better Futures Forum (10-11 September), Australia’s largest multi-sectoral climate gathering. Delegates from communities, trade unions, local councils, businesses, and nonprofits will showcase their accelerated climate actions and ambitions, surpassing the pace of federal government initiatives.

Cliff emphasised, “It’s not too late for Minister Bowen to show greater ambition by aligning Australia with the Paris Climate Agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, and showing confidence that Australia will deliver on its COP28 promises to phase out fossil fuels and triple renewable energy capacity.”

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