John EnglartAustralian Labor Government acting slow on #ClimateAction. Some thoughts after the ALP National Conference. We need to ensure what the Labor Government does commit to do in the climate action space, it does very well. No loopholes.
* Integrity of #CarbonOffset credits a major loophole in #SafeguardMechanism.
* We need a climate trigger in the refresh of the EPBC Act. This can prevent new coal and gas approvals.
* The Nature Repair Market proposed by Plibersek is highly problematic in financialising #biodiverrsity which may lead to perverse extinction outcomes, but driving new profits like in the carbon offsets market.
* Net Zero Authority already established (a positive) needs to draw up fossil project phaseout contingency plans as part of a #JustTransition framework.
* Ambitious #FuelEmissionStandards important to get EVs imported and to drive takeup.
* Impose a #carbontax per tonne on all coal and gas exported. This is a transitional tax to raise revenue.
* Phaseout Fossil Fuel tax subsidies presently at $11bn per year (#G20 Commitment)
* Maintain #renewables increase and upgrade grid (transmission), grid and community batteries as urgent priority
* Prioritise reducing FF methane fugitive emissions and address measuring and reporting methodology that is failing to match satelite data (Commitment to #GlobalMethanePledge)
* Stop subsidising gas & carbon capture and storage projects (Coal to Hydrogen in Vic, subsidy to Middlearm project Darwin) Chevron's Gorgon project demonstrates #CCS falls far short of meeting targets.
* Release the ONI Climate Security Report to #TellTheTruth
* Put in place #bushfire and #heatwave preparedness measures for this summer in co-operation with the states. Fire scientist David Bowman says we are sleepwalking into disaster this summer. Early bushfire warnings already issued for SE Queensland (a month earlier than in 2019)
* Declare a Climate Emergency (A largely symbolic action, but there can be meaningful consequences)
This was a rapidly put together list after the ALP national conference. A lot more could be added.
#Auspol #ALP #ClimateCrisis
